Ringbrothers launches “OCTAVIA,” an 805-hp, carbon-body 1971 Aston Martin DBS restomod, debuting new tech and bespoke craftsmanship at The Quail.
Ringbrothers unveiled a radically reimagined 1971 Aston Martin DBS on Friday at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, calling the fully bespoke commission—nicknamed “OCTAVIA”—the most advanced build in the Wisconsin shop’s history.
The project, Ringbrothers’ first Aston Martin and its Monterey Car Week debut, consumed more than 12,000 hours of engineering and fabrication. Starting with a donor DBS, the team re-created the classic fastback’s shape in carbon fiber and integrated a full structural cage, then stretched, widened and re-proportioned the chassis to deliver modern dynamics without abandoning the original silhouette.
“It’s nearly impossible to convey all the intricacies that went into engineering this car,” co-owner Mike Ring said. “We’ve combined the ferocity of American muscle with the stiff upper lip of English sophistication.”
Power comes from a Ford Performance 5.0-liter V-8 topped by a 2.65-liter Harrop supercharger, rated at 805 horsepower in street tune. A six-speed manual sends power to the rear wheels. The DBS rides on a custom Roadster Shop FAST TRACK chassis with Fox RS SV fixed-valve coilovers, Ringbrothers-designed front uprights and a wheelbase extended by 3 inches. Track width grows 8 inches at the front and 10 inches at the rear. Braking is via 14-inch Brembo rotors with six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers.
One-off, three-piece centerlock wheels—developed with designer Gary Ragle and HRE—pay homage to the factory look. Exterior finish is BASF Glasurit Double-0 Silver with Nuclear Olive Green accents. Trim and brightwork were CNC-milled from billet aluminum or 3D-printed in stainless steel.
Inside, a carbon-fiber dash, stainless accents, brass-machined door handles, pleated leather and extensive carbon weave create a modernist cabin. The car also debuts Gentex’s auto-dimming visors in a road application and integrates a multi-camera system “worthy of Q-Branch,” the builders said. Ringbrothers’ trademark wit appears underhood with custom valve covers reading “Aston Martini” and a martini-glass dipstick.
Co-owner Jim Ring framed the build as an exercise in imagination and execution. “We asked ourselves, ‘What would an MI6 agent drive on holiday?’ This was the result.”
The unveiling broadens Ringbrothers’ footprint beyond the American muscle builds that made its name, signaling growing demand for coachbuilt, cross-cultural restomods that blend classic design with contemporary performance hardware. No pricing or production plans were disclosed; “OCTAVIA” is a one-off commission.
