2009 Aston Martin DBS

Highlights

• Iconic and sonorous 6-litre V12
• Manual 6-speed transmission with new clutch fitted at 49k miles
• Just 52,686 miles (verified) with main dealer history and will come freshly serviced with a fresh MOT
• Superb condition inside and out
• Recent new set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres

Overview

Some things are just right. The first cold beer on a blazing hot day, the feel of a freshly tailored suit, or the satisfaction of looking in your toolbox and seeing the 10mm socket is still there.

You can add to this list the Aston Martin DBS in silver (Tungsten Silver, in this case, the choice of a certain three-digit identified secret agent). From every angle it’s just… perfect. There aren’t many cars, or anything else for that matter, for which we’d break out the ‘p’ word, but the DBS truly deserves it. It may be based on a DB9, but the enhancements to the styling and drivetrain make it an altogether different animal. It’s like the difference between Chris Hemsworth in his ‘Home and Away’ days and his appearance in the latest Thor film.

Of course, the pinnacle of perfection (and to complete the James Bond specification) would be a DBS with a manual transmission. By way of a stunning coincidence, that’s just what we happen to have here. Yes, you read that right, this gorgeous, slickly styled über-GT comes not only with an 510bhp naturally aspirated V12, but a proper waggly-stick and third pedal. Which makes it not only a proper driver’s car, but a genuinely rare and collectible exotic too.

Beautifully maintained, this example has been in dry storage since early 2023 and presents in near immaculate condition for its age. It’s no trailer queen or show pony, it’s been driven just as it should be, but it is in exceptionally good order and benefits from a comprehensive main dealer service history and just under 53,000 miles on the clock.

We can’t think of many better ways to get from A to B with maximum excitement and then drop every jaw in the vicinity upon arriving at B. Possibly the Millennium Falcon? But seeing as that doesn’t actually exist, we’d have to say that this DBS is the perfect solution.

Ooh, we dropped the ‘p’ word again. It’s worth it though.

History and documentation

• First registered 26 May 2009
• 3 former owners, current owner since December 2014
• Current mileage is 52,686 miles, verified by the service and MOT record
• Service book and/ or invoices show main dealer services as follows: Jun 2009 @ 2,013 miles, Nov 2009 @ 10,157 miles, Feb 2011 @ 17,942 miles, May 2012 @21,660 miles, May 2013 @ 22,912 miles, Apr 2014 @ 24,750 miles, Mar 2015 @ 29,927 miles, Mar 2016 @ 38,155 miles, May 2017 @ 43,748 miles, Apr 2018 @ 46,927 miles, Mar 2019 @ 49,478 miles, Mar 2020 @ 51,870 miles, Apr 2021 @ 52,068 miles, Apr 2022 @ 52,460 miles
• Current mileage stands at 52,686, the car having remained in storage for the last two years
• Full inspection, service and four-wheel alignment in mid-2022, before the car went into storage
• MOT with no advisories expires 16 Oct 2025
• It will receive a full service from Grange Aston Martin prior to sale
• Full document pack included
• Two keys
• Invoices detailing maintenance and servicing
• Excellent MOT history, with all advisories having been taken care of
• V5 present in owner’s name
• HPI clear (checked September 2024)
• Believe it or not, this 6-litre V12 monster is London ULEZ compliant.

Interior

• Stunning black leather and dark grey Alcantara upholstery, in excellent overall condition
• Deeply bolstered sports seats, with DBS embroidery to the head rests and contrasting white stitching, are in very good order, with just a little light wear to the outer bolster of the driver’s seat
• Both the seats are electrically adjustable and feature a 3-position memory function
• Carbon fibre cabin trim all shows very well, with no damage to be seen
• Electrically adjustable door mirrors and windows
• Automatic air conditioning
• Tailor’s Gey Alcantara headlining looks to be in excellent condition, with no sagging, damage or staining that we could see
• Dark grey carpets and matched over-mats show very well, with no notable wear
• The rear bench is purely for storage and makes the car an excellent proposition for longer trips and grand touring
• A new piano black navigation surround was fitted in 2022
• Satellite navigation
• Cruise control
• Hands-free phone connectivity, controlled from the multi-function wheel
• Factory fitted CD/radio system
• Parking sensors
• Generous boot space, with smart black carpeting and fitted golf umbrella
• All of the internal trim looks to be in excellent condition, with minimal evidence of wear, and nothing broken or missing as far as we can see
• The instrumentation and switchgear shows minimal wear
• We’re assured by the vendor that everything works just as it should, with no issues or faults they are aware of

Exterior

• Tungsten Silver paintwork looks to be in superb condition for its age, with a lovely, glossy finish and no evidence we could see of any notable blemishes
• There are a handful of minor stone chips to the front end, but nothing that would concern us
• The car benefits from aluminium and carbon fibre construction, minimising the threat of any corrosion and keeping the kerb-weight to less than 1.7 tonnes – positively dainty by modern standards
• The bonnet, bootlid, wings and doors are carbon fibre, which according to Aston Martin saves around 30Kg, with the car being 65kg lighter than a DB9
• All of the bodywork looks very clean and straight, with no dents or damage to mention, even panel gaps and good alignment
• As well as the classic ‘duck tail’ rear spoiler, the DBS benefits from unique flared arches, front splitter, bonnet vents, side skirts and carbon fibre rear diffuser – all of which present very well indeed
• The badging all appears to be complete and in good order, with no UV damage or warping we could discern
• Similarly, the glass areas and light clusters all look clean and clear, with no misting, cracking or notable chips apparent
• All of the undertrays are present and appear to be undamaged
• The floor pans and sills show very well, with no significant marks, damage or creasing we could see
• The original 20-inch alloy wheels are present and correct, and show in excellent condition with no signs of lacquer peel or kerb damage
• A matched set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres were fitted in March 2022, and have only covered a couple of hundred miles so present in fine fettle with plenty of tread depth and clean sidewalls

Mechanical

• 5,935cc naturally aspirated, 48-valve V12
• Rear wheel drive
• 6-speed manual Graziano transmission
• Factory performance figures: 510bhp, 420lb-ft, 0-62mph in 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 191mph
• Standard carbon brakes, 398mm fronts and 360mm rears (the first time Aston Martin fitted these to one of their road cars), save a whopping 12.5kg of unsprung mass and offer superb stopping power
• Two position adaptable dampers with Sport mode
• Traction control system and anti-lock braking system
• A new clutch was fitted in March 2019 @ 49,478 miles
• The engine bay is nice and clean, with no evidence of leaks or other issues
• The car idles smoothly and sounds excellent, with a muscular, gentle bass burble at tickover, rising to a spine-tingling V12 howl as you progress through the gears
• We’re assured by the vendor that the car is in excellent mechanical condition and drives just as it should, with no faults, issues or problems they are aware of

Summary

Take a DB9 – which is already a gorgeous car – refine it, refocus it, add a dash more style and a whole heap more grunt and you have the DBS. In our opinion, one of the finest sporting GTs ever made.

In a discussion of the world’s most evocative machinery, a manual V12 Aston Martin has to be in the conversation. And when it’s wrapped up in a body as beautifully proportioned and detailed as this, we think you can make a very good argument for it being one of the most desirable cars ever made. After all, if it’s good enough for JB…

This example is wonderfully well presented too, and benefits from a stunning specification and paint colour that suits the car’s lines to a tee. It wears a very gentle and attractive patina inside, is extremely well preserved externally and has been very well cared for mechanically. In short, if you’ve always wanted a DBS (and we can’t imagine anyone wouldn’t), then this is the car for you.

To arrange a viewing, please request this in the Q&A section. You can click through to the seller's profile and use the 'Email Me' function to arrange a viewing privately. This seller is located in Braintree, Essex.