The Wisconsin builders spent 12,000 hours turning a 1971 Aston Martin DBS into an 805-hp carbon-bodied one-off called Octavia.
A British Classic, Reimagined in America
Wisconsin-based Ringbrothers has built a reputation for radical restomods that blend precision craftsmanship with bold reinterpretations of classic cars. Their latest project, unveiled at Monterey Car Week and The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, is called Octavia, a one-off based on a 1971 Aston Martin DBS. The choice of donor car is unusual: the DBS was a transitional model, bridging the elegant DB6 and the more aggressive V8 Vantage. While the Vantage was already muscular, Ringbrothers pushed the formula to extremes.
The Scale of the Build
The transformation required more than 12,000 hours of work, encompassing design, fabrication, and engineering. Although the Octavia retains the general silhouette sketched by Aston Martin designer William Towns, nearly every element has been reimagined. The body is built entirely from carbon fiber and widened significantly, eight inches at the front and ten at the rear. The wheelbase itself was stretched by three inches for improved proportions, all mounted on a custom Roadster Shop FAST TRACK chassis. Finished in BASF Glasurit’s Double-0 Silver paint with subtle Nuclear Olive Green accents, the car balances understatement with detail.
American Heart, British Suit
Underneath its carbon skin, Octavia houses a Ford Performance 5.0-liter Coyote V8 topped with a 2.65-liter Harrop supercharger. In this configuration, it produces 805 horsepower, channeled to the rear wheels through a Tremec six-speed manual gearbox. The powertrain is supported by Fox RS SV coilovers, 14-inch Brembo brakes, and bespoke HRE center-lock wheels designed with Ragle Design. The result is a car with the outward dignity of a grand tourer but the aggression of a modern muscle machine.
Interior: Playful and Precise
The cabin blends traditional luxury with experimental design. Materials include leather, carbon fiber, billet aluminum, brass, and even 3D-printed stainless steel. Small details inject humor into the project: the Coyote’s custom valve covers are engraved with “Aston Martini,” while the dipstick handle is shaped like a martini glass. The interior also introduces Gentex’s auto-dimming visors, technology never before used in a road car. Despite these modern touches, the layout preserves echoes of the original DBS.
The Philosophy Behind Octavia
For Ringbrothers, Octavia was about merging the seemingly opposite worlds of British refinement and American muscle. “We asked ourselves, ‘What would an MI6 agent drive on holiday?’ This was the result,” said co-owner Jim Ring. Mike Ring added that the car represents “the ferocity of American muscle with the stiff upper lip of English sophistication.” The builders describe Octavia as their most ambitious creation to date, pushing their interpretation of hot rodding into unfamiliar territory.
A One-Off with No Price Tag
Octavia was commissioned as a unique project for a private client. Ringbrothers has not disclosed the cost, but considering the man-hours, engineering complexity, and bespoke components, estimates place the figure well into seven-digit territory. While not destined for the open market, the build highlights what can happen when a classic British GT is reimagined through the lens of American custom culture. For those curious about the process, Ringbrothers documented portions of the build in a YouTube series, offering glimpses into the craftsmanship behind this singular Aston Martin.
