Jay Leno Drives a Custom 1971 Aston Martin DBS by Ringbrothers

[00:10] should have. >> It feels really good.

[00:26] Garage. Very special car today from our good friends the Ringbrothers. They've been here over the years with just incredible customs. They do wonderful Ringling brothers. That's a couple of clowns. These guys are a whole different

[00:39] clowns. These guys are a whole different story. This car is based on a 1971 Aston Martin DBS. Probably I wouldn't say the least desirable DB car, but certainly not like DB3, 4, 5, or any of those. It was a six-cylinder motor. It's been

[00:54] heavily modified. I think I Road & Track called it one of the most beautiful cars. It was at The Quail. People just went crazy. It's just such a beautiful, beautiful design, a beautiful vehicle. Well, let's find out more. Let's bring

[01:07] >> Hey. >> You outdid yourself, guys. the design is great, but the craftsmanship and the work it's really unbelievable. Uh just just just incredible. How long

[01:20] >> Well, I think it took the most time is talking Eric into spending more money than he wanted to to spend doing it, but uh this was about a three-year project. >> Okay. Well, you took your time and you did it right because it's just

[01:33] incredible. Now, you know, I looked at one of these and at the time like uh three, four years ago, they were going for between 50 and 80,000 dollars on the used car market. It predates by just a few months

[01:49] the V8 Aston Martin. So, this one had the six-cylinder that was kind of based on the same engine they had for years. Nice car, but just didn't have that you know, extra, you know, having that V8 really made a big a big

[02:05] difference. And plus at the time this was released, you know, it's it's funny. They were always sort of teetering on the edge of Gauntlet had it and he was a huge enthusiast, loved the car, but he sold

[02:18] like three or four a year. I mean, that's where they were literally, you English are amazing at that. Just hang on and they continue to do it. And the company's come back and and done quite well in their new Vanquish with that

[02:31] V12. Just incredible. Just incredible. So, this is kind of harkens back to those glory days. It's it's just a a beautiful job. So, the owner, he bought the car as a used car, drove it for a while and then said, "No." Or what?

[02:46] while and then said, "No." Or what? >> kind of funny, Jay. Um Eric came to us, car." And I said, "Well, what do you want to build?" And he said, uh "What do "Well, hopefully not another Mustang or another Camaro or Chevelle. Like

[03:01] let's do something European." And Eric said, "How about an Aston Martin?" I said, "Perfect." And he mentioned the '71 and uh 4 days later probably he had

[03:13] >> Oh, so he owned the car already? >> Oh, yeah. No, he Well, he went out and >> Oh, he went out looking for a car. >> Yes, he went out looking for the car and uh found one uh and had it shipped to us and that's where it began.

[03:26] >> And you're you're very right on the number. It was, you know, in the $80,000 and it didn't run. It was a non-running because we don't, you know, we don't have for drivetrain. >> Right. Right.

[03:40] >> So, yeah, it started started with Jim and Eric getting started and then we, you know, took it from there and uh did some renderings with Gary Regal. Initially reached out to Aston Martin to see if we could get an engine.

[03:53] bandwidth at the time. So, >> hence the engine that it does now. >> And you have the Ford Coyote motor in >> Yeah, we did. We thought we could get away with the the Ford since Ford did

[04:05] >> Well, Ford did own Aston Martin for a brief time. So, that's interesting. you're disappointed in that. >> Right. >> Yeah, well, I got to admit I do like it when

[04:18] I get a little tired tilt-away steering wheel and the LS and the automatic. You know, I I I like when it get back to what it what it is. Well, European. And I I I mean, I think it's a huge

[04:32] improvement. I Cuz I you know, I a friend of mine had a friend who had a DB uh S and I went and I drove it. And thing about it, you know, the interior, the leather, and all that. It was such

[04:47] so anemic. The engine just didn't have you know, we live in an era now 1,000 horsepower is not uncommon. Something with just a few hundred It was all It was okay. And that too, that one I mean, that was a running car, looked good, and

[05:02] that was 90 grand. Uh which is still a lot of money, but when you realize most lot of money, but when you realize most Aston Martins, especially DB4s, Zagato, 700, 800, million, three, you know. So, you take probably the least desirable

[05:15] model and you turn it into this, which I think is just incredible. I mean, and the paint is exactly what it should be for. Aston Martin has always had an know. Uh to me, I always would call them the

[05:28] car most people would probably be happy with cuz it's it is a sports car, but it's a GT. My wife does not like what I call "Ow, my hair" cars, you know. You know, we go for a ride and then the top is off and then we're "Ow, my hair,

[05:42] man." This is something So, she she Anytime I show up with a "Ow, my hair" this is something you could go to dinner, it looks it's classy, and it's but it still retains that sort of your European elegance and stance. It It's

[05:57] really fascinating. So, obviously wheelbase is the same. original car. >> Right. right? We We wanted to >> Windshield's the same.

[06:10] >> Yeah. Back glass the same. We just wanted to just enhance it cuz you're right, they're kind of boring cars and I feel like and Gary and Jim they just We felt they're too flat-sided if you original DBS they're real flat like they

[06:22] >> Right. Yeah. >> Where we put 10 in, you know, it's 10 in >> Yeah. >> 10 in wider and 8 in in the front to give it you know, the the new newer Aston feel.

[06:35] >> Yeah, no, that's really exciting. You know, to me the sexiest cars are always They uh sort of have the masculine thing here with the wide stance and and it look like the XKE. You know, Enzo Ferrari called the most beautiful car

[06:49] I've never met a woman that didn't think a Jaguar was a beautiful car. Women I Oh, is that a Jaguar? Oh, that's a because it does it has a feminine front end and it's sort of masculine and you know, it's just it just kind of appeals

[07:03] to all kinds of different people. And this is really interesting what we've Uh it's obviously all carbon fiber hood. Okay. Now, is this Oh, this is part of >> It what? >> It is. Okay.

[07:17] >> functional. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. functional. Even the vents in the back are functional brake ducts, you know, back windows there and um so yeah, the whole car is is

[07:31] functional. So, HERA uh built the supercharger for this car. When we first got the supercharger the the air intake or the throttle body on the supercharger was off to one side and >> it wasn't going to work cuz we were just

[07:46] hell-bent to have the air cleaner dead center with it fed by the hood. >> So, we talked them into making a different supercharger for us and what was down the center and then we wanted them because we didn't want all

[07:59] supercharger to come out the front side of the motor. We asked them if they could make us a new can for the bottom of the supercharger and make it all come hoses around. It just really cleaned up the engine compartment but it was

[08:12] just a lot of small details to try to get it to where >> Can we open the hood and show us what you're talking about? Okay. Let's see. >> Yeah, it's a surprise.

[08:31] >> Yep. >> Oh, okay. Very cool. So, it's got late model Aston Martin clamshell

[08:44] >> hinges. So, we adapted all all that we could. The door handles are out of a later Aston Martin. You know, everything seals. You can see that we made seals that seal the wheel tubs and they're functional to release the air pressure

[08:58] the side. >> And whose supercharger is this? Australia. >> Oh, okay. I asked about the supercharger >> Harrop. >> Harrop. Okay, out of out of Australia.

[09:12] >> Well, how do you guys sit in Wisconsin eating cheese? How [laughter] do you How guys in Australia? >> We actually got invited to go to and we met these folks down there and they

[09:27] project. We gave them a somewhat tough one because they didn't have anything that bolted on. Obviously, they had to do a lot of extra work. Like I said, the throttle body area on the original here it's come off to the side

[09:40] out here. So, they had to rebuild this entire area here to actually come straight out to feed the air cleaner, which bonds or seals to the hood. And then all of the water lines typically on a factory one will come out the front

[09:54] able to plumb things around without having all of that plumbing. famous for. Just little detail. Those clamps, those body on there. Is that Can you buy those? Did you

[10:10] >> Actually, you can buy them. I got to admit we've seen them on I think one of years ago. But yeah, they are available. They're a

[10:22] can buy. >> Right. Boy, yeah, they really look >> Yeah, you're always When we're doing this stuff, you're always trying to research it. And you're right, it's the little things that people pick up on.

[10:35] people's stuff or whether it's aircraft or whatever, you're looking at things to wrap materials or find a different way. >> One thing, yeah, the valve covers, Jay, the

[10:48] We actually used uh parts off the original valve cover and a little fun instead of >> Right. >> Martini instead of Martin. >> Used to say S and Martin Lagonda on the

[11:02] >> [laughter] >> Based on the style, we needed to keep it as low as we can. You know, obviously the lower you make the car, the higher limited. >> It's like a European or I don't know,

[11:16] Australia's not European, but just that Aston Martin international thing I think is pretty cool. Yeah, yeah, it's just a a beautiful, beautiful job. I mean, it really is. Just the way that This all looks factory carbon fiber. Just just

[11:31] off of what? >> We made them. those. Okay. Wow, look at that. Well, nicely done. Power steering. >> booster. Of course. Yeah, of course. Brake booster. Okay. Again, those clamps

[11:46] >> Yeah, it's You're right. It's all in the It's all in the detail. lot of times, obviously, you wipe an engine down and stuff, but if there's any weeping, it always stains the valve cover. And And you don't see any of that

[12:00] >> Yes. >> Yeah. Yeah, it's great. In Wisconsin, >> Actually, Ben Collins took it to the track at Pahrump this year. >> Oh, yeah. Ben's a good guy. >> Yeah, he is.

[12:13] >> You can see he wasn't very kind to these tires. He scrubbed the front ones pretty >> It's got Brembos. >> Brembos. Oh, nice. Okay. >> They actually worked with us cuz we machined our uprights off a Porsche. We

[12:28] machined our uprights off a Porsche. We scanned Porsche 997 stuff. >> And then we made the uprights and we pressed in all the Porsche bearings and true pin drive. >> Yeah. Oh, that's great. And you know, it

[12:41] really is attention to detail. I always love these shows you see where they build a car in 10 days. >> [laughter] >> Looks I mean, it's 10 days just just get those clamps on.

[12:53] >> Yeah, I mean >> It took 10 days to get Eric's first bill. >> [laughter] interior, obviously, looks looks European.

[13:06] And a proper [snorts] manual gearbox, which is great. How >> Six. >> It's a transaxle car now. So, the it's all transaxle. It's out of a C6 Corvette.

[13:18] >> That's reworked. So, believe it or not, it's heavier in the rear than in the >> Yeah. >> It's 52 rear, 48 front. So, it's a little Ben said it was too stable. He wanted it to be a little bit

[13:30] >> That does seem that's pretty well balanced at 52 Yeah, 48. That's actually >> He said he'd had a hard time getting the back end to come out on it. >> Yeah, those guys like to drive with their butt hanging out.

[13:43] that. No, just >> Kind of like your >> Yeah, right. Right. It's I mean you realize this is based on a >> That's pretty amazing. >> We had a company out of Detroit, a

[13:58] company called Gentex, who builds basically all the mirrors for the OEs. >> They got involved with the obviously the rearview mirror and the the mirrors you can see they got their little logos in there that blink in the outside mirror

[14:13] >> Oh, I see it. >> And this is car's also has some of the >> The first >> The first sun visors that are auto dimming. They supplied us for this car and basically you pull the visors down

[14:28] and you look through them and depending on the sunlight they dim automatically >> Kind of like fighter jet >> Or if you come over a hill, instantly can look through them like sunglasses. >> Oh, that's terrific.

[14:41] quite soon. >> And what size wheels are we looking at >> Uh typical for us 19s and 20s. >> 19s and 20s. >> It's got the you know, the Cup 2 tires on it. So they're pretty sticky.

[14:54] >> Everything has Michelin Cup 2s now. I mean the new Corvette has it, the ZR1. >> It really is. >> You know what I love about Michelin? The >> Yeah. >> You know what I mean? I mean that

[15:07] because when you have older cars like I do, especially a solid axle car, lot of they're not as careful. So there's there'll be a like a chunk of rubber and you go thump thump thump thump thump and

[15:20] and you you get into a shimmy and you actually have to shave the tire. I find with Michelins they require the least amount of wheel weights of almost any tire. Maybe a half an ounce. It's not that 5 oz over here, you

[15:35] >> I wondered why it seems like all these tires like are made in France. I wonder why they're made over there. Just made It's funny that Cup 2's are made in >> Yeah, I don't know. I don't know. I I'm glad they are, you know.

[15:49] >> Yeah, they do a good job with the tires. >> And what does this car weigh now, do you >> This This is heavy. I think it was >> 44? >> I think it was 46. >> Wow, okay. Yeah.

[16:01] everything is based on the original, right? The The profile is is the same profile. But when we de-skinned it, it was way different than like our Camaros were built. So, we've actually put a cage

[16:14] to build off the cage because it was just a little bit more sturdy than this is my choice bar. You're twisting a frame. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I like the fact that you honor the original design and it's still clearly what it was.

[16:29] got a haircut, a new suit, you know, just clean it up a little bit, you know, they take a homeless guy and they put him in a Salvatore suit and give him a out. Like, "Hey, he looks like a businessman now."

[16:42] Yeah, that's That's you guys. You guys That's That's you guys. Yeah, yeah. >> Absolutely. >> We only got one seat. Who's going to go? I would >> You know, I've done it every time.

[16:55] >> Yeah. >> And he's done them all. Why stop now? it. Let's put this hood down. I love the the >> Yeah. >> Just drop it.

[17:08] >> Now you just got to push till it clicks. >> Oh, there you go. >> Boy, nicely done. Just Just a beautiful job. Let's give it a shot. >> Going to go in

[17:29] Ah, proper clutch. >> [laughter]

[17:53] >> Oh, it's capable about 1,100, but it's >> Yeah, yeah. >> You need race gas in it to do that and a different tune, but >> Yeah.

[18:14] should have. >> It feels really good. We obviously have end of things, but it seems to be really good in this good in this driving, you know, RPM area.

[18:31] >> That's a company called Classic Instruments. They're out of uh >> Yeah, nice looking nice looking dash. >> Yeah, they're >> Yeah, they're OEM-ish.

[18:54] This is a good size automobile, isn't it, boy? hood front engine design I like. And with the transaxle, it gives it a nice sense of [clears throat] balance. >> Have you driven any of these early cars,

[19:09] >> Yeah, they're interesting. They're all right. The DB5 to me is right. The DB5 to me is is the most boring. At least the DB5 and 6 had the classic body. So, you you had the classic sort of

[19:24] engine and drive feel. The DBS looks kind of modern, but which is a little odd. >> You know, it's to build these cars, it's kind of fun to be able to drive the car you start with. And unfortunately, we

[19:37] couldn't drive that car. It didn't run, but it's kind of fun to see what you start with and what you end with.

[19:51] It's kind of getting some rain. You sent it out in a hurry. >> I love that that he drives this in Wisconsin winters.

[20:04] >> You know, it's so funny. It's just Yeah. >> And the whole body's carbon fiber, >> body's carbon. >> It's pretty amazing material, carbon fiber. As a builder, do you have any apprehensions about it? I mean, is it

[20:17] not I know a friend of mine and he doesn't like the carbon fiber pieces that people put on 911s cuz just thinks it makes the car less I It's supposed to that's true or not. >> You know,

[20:31] it's amazing how many manufacturers use it. I think my have with it is it seems that you put a carbon fiber car in the sun and you tend

[20:44] to see the weave come out of it. You know, it ends up growing a little bit, down and kind of goes away. >> Right. >> That's really the only thing that really bothers me about true carbon.

[20:56] >> Carbon fiber, easier to work with than aluminum or harder? building. Um you know, we've got some really talented people at our shop.

[21:09] We got a couple of young guys that I'm I'm telling you, I'd put them up to >> Yeah. >> I One of them, he's a young guy, 22 years old, just an amazing craftsman.

[21:25] >> I went up to him one day when he was TIGing a header, and I took a piece of >> Yeah. >> And I never seen a guy get so mad in his life cuz I screwed his weld up. He was furious with me. I thought he was going

[21:39] to quit. "Don't ever do that to me again." And I'm like, "Okay, I'm just playing around here." >> Yeah, we want that.

[21:51] >> Where's the wipers on this? >> There's is none. >> There are no wipers? >> No wipers.

[22:07] >> Yeah, you don't want none of that. >> No, rain is so infrequent in LA that when it does happen, the streets get extremely slippery. The oil comes up. But you could drive this thing to New York or San Francisco if you wanted to.

[22:22] obviously we get these long winters in Wisconsin, so Eric doesn't get the chance to enjoy a lot, but he he actually this past fall enjoyed it quite a bit after obviously SEMA and all the stuff that we took it to, but I think

[22:36] this year he'll actually use it a lot more. >> How many gallon gas tank, you know? >> Well, it's got a twin fill. You can fill it from either side. >> Okay. But it go to one tank. It's got

[22:48] >> Which goes to one tank, yeah. And I believe it's a 16-gallon tank. It sits Obviously, there's not a whole lot of room back there, but >> There is. It's It's hidden. >> I see.

[23:01] >> You've got to use your phone. >> Right, right. >> He didn't want that. It's just something he didn't want.

[23:24] >> Oh, yeah. It has I'm glad we're not in an open car. I'm glad it's not a convertible. Now, when you build a car like this, do you just

[23:37] make a second set of fenders or hoods in case road, or no? >> The answer to that is no. We did build second parts of it. Typically, these molds you can only get so many pulls out

[23:52] of them. Obviously, if something did happen, if you have the CAD, you can actually build a part out of what anyway. Things do happen like that. I mean, car feels pretty stable, don't you

[24:05] >> It does feel quite stable. Yeah, you sit low. >> Wegner Automotive, the same guy that built the motor for that Chevelle we built the motor for that Chevelle we drove years ago, did the motor in this.

[24:17] >> He uses a lot of local Wisconsin guys? >> Yep. Carl, the old guy, I think you had met him. I don't know if that was in Wisconsin or if he come out here, but he ended up passing.

[24:29] Uh so, his son took the business over. He was a nice man. scoop and seeing it run, you know, when you put your foot in, you see it hood come up a bit, yeah. It's great. Now, is there a drain to keep water from getting

[24:43] the situation? >> There is a drain both sides of the air there, it comes back out. >> Nice size wheel. Is this based on the original wheel or

[24:58] what? >> No, it's a design that we built. Gary for this car, but we do make a lot of steering wheels that we sell to the steering wheels that we sell to the aftermarket.

[25:13] no traction control, you got to be very careful on the road like this in California. It's just a light rain, the oil comes up. I touch the throttle, I little bit. But that's what it's like back in the

[25:27] But that's what it's like back in the day. was sort of the Italian version of the DB5,

[25:42] my 3500 GTI. And it it's interesting how those remained fairly inexpensive with the because of the James Bond connection, the DB4 and 5 just went through the In fact, Sean Connery tried to buy

[25:58] a DB5. He wanted a big discount cuz he, you were all So, he got all mad and he bought a second-hand uh Jensen CV8.

[26:11] the guy. >> Did you know him? times. He would always be, "Gee, what's the Gee?" You know, you know, he was a tough guy.

[26:24] >> Is that right? >> Back in '53, yeah. And he he was a longshoreman. And he would fight at the drop of a hat.

[26:36] Did you ever hear about a gangster named John Johnny Stompanato? >> No, I don't. >> Johnny Stompanato was dating uh Oh, I can't remember who it was. And she was in a movie and Sean Connery was an

[26:50] an extra, you know, in the movie. He's just got a script. And she was flirting with him. So, Johnny Stompanato goes down the shows up at the studio with a gun. Puts the John Connery, "Stay away from

[27:03] my girl." John Connery takes the gun, knocks him in the head with the gun, knocks him down, takes out some bullets. "You don't put a gun to my woman, >> Oh, yeah. It was a tough Oh, it was a Oh, he was He didn't He didn't mess with

[27:16] >> And that's a true story? >> That's a true story. Oh, he was a tough >> that's why he's James Bond works, you know, because you take a tough guy, you put him in an expensive, you know, Savile Row silk suit, and oh, you get

[27:31] this sort of sexy bad boy kind of guy, you know. And that's who he was. Now, he was a He was a a piece of work. Still my favorite Bond, you know, cuz he Still my favorite Bond, you know, cuz he was the most dangerous one, you know.

[27:51] It's just too slippery to make this thing do what it does. But these Cup 2s are not a rain tire. >> No, they don't get very sticky in the water. >> No, no.

[28:07] this thing. >> It's pretty happy in this RPM range. >> Yeah. Like But it's a good-looking car, really. I love the clamshell hood the way it opens. That's great.

[28:20] to come up with a way to to uh to make physically make the headlights for this car to fit the theme of what uh halogen headlight modules, and they

[28:35] basically come with an oval piece of glass, like a a round ball cut off. >> And uh a little servo with a a little door inside of it that actually does the door inside of it that actually does the high and low system for it.

[29:06] I mean, it's amazing how good modern cars are. You know, the magazines kind anymore cuz there are no bad cars, you know? would fall off and you know, the guys would be stuck and

[29:20] you know, the guys would be stuck and there'd be a funny article, you know? really put my foot into this thing cuz I can feel it starting to move around on

[29:34] this slippery pavement. And it's somebody else's car and it's a thousand horsepower. But, it's great. It really has the ethos to me of sort of the Aston Martin. You know, and now you've got the power

[29:47] You know, and now you've got the power and the handling to do it. cars are that everything works on this car. It stops and handles. You know, the

[29:59] number of times people brought kind of half-finished cars to me and the brake pedal goes right through the floor or I didn't realize we we had a brake fluid leak or whatever it might be, you know? But, you guys always

[30:11] just it looks like original manufacturer's work. It's It's really >> a lot. >> Yeah, yeah, thanks, Mike. We It's always fun having you guys here cuz the cars are always a hit cuz they're

[30:25] just so well built. That's To me, that's the joy. It's not just the part of driving it that's fun. It's the part of looking at it and just looking at the clamp that's holding the throttle bodies on.

[30:38] How tight it how it works efficiently, it looks good. It's really great. So, it's always fun to appreciate good old-fashioned American craftsmanship. I hope you guys enjoyed this car as much as we did. If it's in your area, go by

[30:52] and check it out sometime. It's kind of on the show circuit every now and then, isn't it? It is. But, it gets driven all the time. So, our our friend Ben Collins, who was The Stig, he just beat the hell out of this

[31:04] thing, didn't he? He was he punished it pretty bad, but that'll be shown up soon. So, check it out. We'll see you guys next week. Thanks. Bye-bye.