From what can be seen, externally, the DBS exactly matched the version seen in Casino Royale; much like a DB9 on which it is closely based but with considerably more menace. The V12 engine was been tuned to produce 510 bhp @ 6500 rpm and 420 lb.ft. of torque at 5750 rpm and was coupled to a close ratio 6-speed gearbox. This allowed a top speed of 191 mph and 0-60 dash in 4.3 seconds. At launch, the DBS was only available with a conventional gear stick and three pedals although Touchtronic 2 became available as an option from late 2008. For the first time on an Aston Martin road car, the DBS had vented carbon ceramic brakes: 398 mm diameter with six pot calipers at the front, 360 mm four pot calipers at the back. Another first for an Aston Martin was carbonfibre composite body panels used for the boot enclosure, boot lid, door opening surrounds, front wings and bonnet, together offering a 30kg saving over the aluminium equivalent. On top of the carbon weave, a patented Surface Veil process was applied a 200 micron layer of epoxy and glass to give the ultra smooth finish expected on an Aston Martin. Three special DBS colours were also introduced for the launch cars and early production cars, Lightning Silver, Casino Royale and Storm Black although these were also made available at additional cost on other cars in the range.

Overall, the weight of the two-seat DBS was 65kg lower than the DB9; by specifying the optional Kevlar and carbon-fibre lightweight seats (not available in North America) provided a further weight saving of 20kg. As a feature, the lightweight seats are desirable to some enthusiast although the lack of backrest adjustment is off-putting to others. 

The interior leather was lighter weight semi-aniline and even the standard Phantom Grey carpets were made of a lighter weight fibre. The conventional key was ditched and replaced by a polished sapphire ECU that was inserted into a slot in the starter button. The centre console was changed with a cast metal surround, new graphics and turned aluminium heater knobs.

First view of the production DBS in Europe was at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2007. The DBS was also strongly featured at the Geneva Motor Show in 2008 where a DBR9 Green coupe was positioned on the prestigious turntable. Deliveries to customers had begun a month or so before with a UK launch price of £161,147.

Rumours of a watch used to open and close the DBS became reality when fine watch manufacturer, Jaeger-LeCoultre announced the introduction of the 18 carat pink gold AMVOX2 DBS Transponder. Only available to DBS owners through AM dealers, the watch could be used to both lock and unlock the car when the wearer is in close proximity to the car by pressing on the pressure sensitive sapphire crystal watch glass.

Later in the 2009MY run, AML introduced the Touchtronic 2 transmission from the DB9 as a £2000 option, perhaps in response to demand from the US market where true manual cars, or ‘stick’ as they call them are a rarity. Also made optional were lightweight occasional rear seats making the DBS a 2+2. In addition, the DBS was given the bespoke Bang & Olufsen audio equipment as standard featuring rather unusual tweeters that rise out of the top roll on the dash. Another option was the introduction of a new 10 spoke 20 inch lightweight wheel offering a 2kg per wheel reduction in unsprung mass. Pictures of the later 2009MY car above were taken at the Geneva Salon, a 2+2 Touchtronic 2 example.  Also introduced later in 2009, the DBS was offered for sale as a Volante with the convertible 2+2 coachwork.

Despite all the weight saving introduced on the DBS, it has to be said that the later cars with rear seats, Touchtronic transmission and B+O audio were significantly heavier than the original series of cars. 

For the 2012MY, the DBS received updates in line with those previewed on the Virage, namely, improved Garmin sat-nav and ‘beam blade’ wiper design, incorporating Bosch Aerotwin wiper blades. Touchtronic 2, instead of being a cost option became the standard transmission although in rare cases, manual tranmsission could still be specified as a no-cost option. These last of the line cars are certainly the most desirable especially with the rare manual gearbox and lightweight 2+0 seating configuration.

When production of the DBS finally ended in the Summer of 2012 with the DBS Ultimate editions, an estimated total of 2533 coupes had been built. This number includes all the special editions including the Carbon Black, Carbon Edition, Dragon 88 and UB-2010.

I must point out that AM market this car as a DBS but, for historic classification by the Aston Martin Heritage Trust, this model should be known as the DBS V12 to differentiate it from the 6 cylinder model of the same name introduced in the 1967.

Following Le Mans, LM11 and LM12 were rebuilt with new un-drilled chassis in order for them to be eligible to enter the RAC Tourist trophy race in Ulster. They were both re-numbered as LM15 and LM16. A third completely new car also joined the team, LM17. At this time it was decided to paint the Team cars in Italian Red, as green was considered unlucky by the Italian born Bertelli. It worked! the LM15, 16 and 17 gained overall 6th, 3rd and 7th places respectively, 1st, 2nd and 3rd in class, and also the team prize. Thus the name ‘Ulster’ was coined for replicas of these victorious machines.

 This LM15, (LM11 rebuilt with an un-drilled chassis) has recently returned to racing in club events.

The LM16,(LM12 rebuilt with an un-drilled chassis) was photographed at the AMOC Le Mans 40th Anniversary Meeting at Donington in 1999 in the company of LM3 and Green Pea.

The engine in question is an AMG, hybridised 3 litre turbocharged unit, developing a peak output of 435 bhp.The new straight-six doesn’t have quite the poke of the V8 but DBX Straight-Six can get to 62 mph in 5.4 seconds and has a top speed of 161 mph, so it’s no slouch. Although at launch, the straight-six is only available in China, the model could be rolled out to other markets in time.

China is a very important market for Aston Martin and the DBX is a very important model. During the first half of 2021, the DBX accounted as 50% of worldwide sales; China took 16% of AML production and of those cars, 70% were DBX.

The DBX Straight Six was discontinued in 2024 with dwindling sales and stronger demand for the high-performance DBX 707.

Then by surprise, AM released a few select pictures of the Bond car in early May 2006 but with virtually no technical details at all. The prototype workshop had pulled out all of the stops and delivered two working ‘hero’ cars to the film producers late in April 2006 that could be used in close-ups and for regular driving sequences. It was obvious that the DBS was closely based on the DB9 chassis but had a new front (with carbonfibre splitter) and rear boot lid spoiler and diffuser, deeper sills and more vents on the bonnet. The interior was covered in Alcantara and the DBS had a conventional manual gear change with the shift pattern illuminated; the six speed Graziano gearbox was from the V8 Vantage. The car was a strict two seater with space behind the seats to hold a race helmet, a fire extinguisher and a gun holder,  both features never intended for production cars. The DBS V12 also had side indicator repeaters in the wing vents and clear rear light clusters both as previewed on the Rapide concept.

As well as the two ‘hero’ cars, AML had to prepare three former development DB9’s for use as DBS look-a-like stunt cars. The prototype DB9 manual was also supplied to the film crew so that the stunt drivers had something to practice with. The spectacular stunt involved the DBS swerving to avoid the Bond girl, Vesper Lynd, who was tied up and left on a country road at night in Montenegro. Initially the team practiced at Dunsfold Aerodrome near Guildford with battered BMW 5 series that when driven up a 12 inch ramp at 65 mph would barrel roll three of four times as intended.

The team moved on to the location of the shoot at the hill circuit at Millbrook proving ground in Bedfordshire. Practice continued with the manual DB9 but this proved more difficult to roll due to the stiff suspension and low centre of gravity, the DB9 refused to roll. For the first real take, the stunt DBS was driven at 70 mph upto a taller 18 inch ramp. but again, the car took off but landed back on all four wheels. As a back up, the team moved to the second of the stunt DBS and installed a nitrogen gas powered ram to punch the tarmac at the correct moment to start the car rolling. At a speed of 75 mph, the ram was deployed and the DBS started to roll. And it didn’t stop rolling until it had competed seven complete barrel rolls, a new Guinness World Record. The car landed back on it’s wheels and Adam Kirley, the driver walked away unharmed. The third stunt DBS was used a couple of weeks later at Millbrook for a bridging shot which became necessary so establish the start of the roll being due to a severe swerve rather than hitting the grass verge where the ramp was to be hidden.

Aston Martin have retained one of the hero cars and also the second DBS that achieved the world record for barrel rolls. They were both shown at the Kensington Palace Centenary Celebration during July 2013. The colour of the Bond cars was called ‘Casino Royale’ and became a standard DBS colour once production began later in 2007. as of 2017, the world record breaking car is on display as part of the ‘Bond in Motion’ exhibition near Covent Garden in London.

What was really odd was that Corgi, the British die-cast manufacturer, famous for the ever popular Goldfinger DB5, actually previewed their model DBS V12 at the British Toy Fair held in London during January 2006 – needless to say, pictures flew around the internet instantly. After all, the Corgi DB5 is one of the greatest toys of all time, the Corgi DBS V12 had a tough act to follow.

The radiator shell had a slight but definite V shape which helps to identify the cars known by the AMOC & AMHT as belonging to the second series. The ‘New’ International was something of an interim model and only about 12 were built when it was effectively replaced by the Le Mans later in the same year.

It must be noted at this point that the familiar enameled Aston Martin ‘wings’ badge (designed by SCH “Sammy” Davis) that exists to this day was first used on the last examples of the ‘New’ International. Strangely, the Le Mans that replaced the ‘New’ International retained the earlier chromed badge.

According to the records from the time, a single 4 door 4 seater International saloon was built in early 1932. It has survived and now has open 4 seater touring coachwork.

This wonderful Q specification DBX 707 was on display at the exclusive Q showroom on Park Avenue in New York. The coachwork is finished in special order Bugatti Blue with Q spec Cote d Azur Blue Semi Aniline leather interior.

This is LM18, which achieved 12th overall at Le Mans and a 5th place in the TT of 1935. It was photographed competing in the Pre-war Sports Car Race at Coys Festival, Silverstone in 1999. It has also been more recently photographed at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegence 2013 competing in the Aston Martin Centenary Class

LM19 was probably the least successful of the 1935 Team Cars after crashing at Le Mans and being flagged off the TT later in the year. But thankfully today it competes with success in AMOC club races throughout the season.

LM20, another of the 1935 Team cars scored a splendid 3rd in the Le Mans 24 hour race plus 1st in class. In the 1935 TT, the car came in a creditable 4th.

LM21 was added to the Team after Le Mans but prior to the 1935 TT event where it was placed 11th. It was photographed in the paddock at Silverstone (number 10) together with LM18, at Coys Festival in 1996

By 1940, the car received some serious modifications with the addition of a 3 litre straight 6 cylinder Sunbeam twin cam engine. In order to get this to fit, the radiator was moved forward and a Lancia Lambda independent front axle fitted. The sump of the new larger engine would have fouled the original Aston Martin front axle. To cope with the power hike, hydraulic brakes were also added.

During the late 1960’s the car was re-discovered, in poor condition, hiding behind a barn in Kent but crucially the original brake and front axle were still with it. It was restored back to it’s original condition although with a 2 litre Rover engine.

Andy Bell of Ecurie Bertelli managed to buy this unique Aston Martin in 2006 in order to prevent it from being chopped up and turned into a race car. It was then fitted with a prototype 2 litre supercharged Speed Model engine, with a claimed output of 165bhp and 160lb.ft. of torque. The owner describes it as a ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Written with the kind assistance of Andy Bell at Ecurie Bertelli

All of the cars supplied for the production were built to the same specification. Left hand drive German spec with coachwork in a shade later called ‘Quantum Silver’ and with Obsidian Black semi-aniline leather and silver stitching.

The six hero cars all survived filming unharmed. One was retained by the factory, the other five were all sold off to customers. Below is the DBS retained by AML, photographed at the 2013 Aston Martin Centenary, the Gaydon factory and the 2023 AMHT Walter Hayes Leacture.

One of the stunt cars was totally destroyed when it was driven into the lake in a freak accident. At least two examples of the stunt cars have survived the film and are occasionally displayed in museums and events. One surviving stunt car, was photographed at the  BMIHT Museum at Gaydon in Autumn, 2009. Another example, was exhibited at the Kensington Palace Aston Martin Centenary Celebration in July 2013.