Some cars make their case through a format so right it has barely changed in decades- one of the oldest surviving romances in motoring. Two doors, a front-mounted V12, rear-wheel drive, and continent-crossing ability make it the quintessential gentleman’s express. This 2010 Aston Martin DBS, being offered through duPont REGISTRY Select with just 8,618 miles on the odometer, delivers exactly that formula. But its six-speed manual and Casino Royale paint make the story considerably more interesting.
Casino Royale was the color worn by the DBS in Daniel Craig’s first outing as James Bond in the 2006 film of the same name, before the production-ready DBS made its public debut the following year. The car also delivered one of the film’s most memorable stunts, flipping seven times during a high-speed crash sequence and setting a Guinness World Record in the process. The DBS returned in Quantum of Solace in 2008, this time wearing Quantum Silver. Bond’s relationship with Aston Martin stretches much further back, with the great Sean Connery first driving the DB5 in Goldfinger in 1964, starting an association that became inseparable from both 007 and the British marque.
Production estimates put the number of Casino Royale coupes at 368, with 269 pairing the color with a manual gearbox. Of those, 251 combined Casino Royale paint, three pedals and the 2+0 configuration seen here, including 173 left-hand-drive examples. That specification becomes more notable against overall production, estimated at 2,534 DBS coupes, including 984 manuals and 1,609 left-hand-drive cars, alongside a further 848 DBS Volantes.
The DBS itself was far more than a DB9 with additional power. Design Director Marek Reichman and his team deliberately fused the visual language of the DBR9 GT1 racer with Aston Martin’s traditional DB proportions. Flared arches, enlarged grilles, redesigned side strakes and 20-inch wheels added muscle, while extensive carbon-fiber bodywork saved roughly 66 pounds. A flat undertray and dramatic carbon-fiber rear diffuser reduced lift at speed, while massive carbon-ceramic brakes completed the transformation. The naturally aspirated 6.0-liter V12 up front produces 510 horsepower, while the six-speed manual helps unlock a factory-rated 191-mph top speed, versus 183 mph for the Touchtronic automatic.
Inside, the Obsidian Black cabin combines DBS-embroidered seats and contrast stitching with carbon-fiber trim, analog dials, Aston’s signature counter-clockwise rev counter and a 13-speaker 1,000-watt Bang & Olufsen audio system. A crystal-topped Emotional Control Unit slots into the dashboard to start the V12, while an analog clock occupies the center stack, adding some old-school ceremony to the experience. The original Aston Martin umbrella remains tucked inside the trunk, reinforcing the distinctly British approach to performance. One thing conspicuously absent, of course, is the assortment of spy gadgets you might expect from a Bond-spec Aston Martin.
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As for the DBS name itself, the nameplate spans three generations dating back to 1967. The second-generation DBS V12 arrived in 2007, followed by the DBS Superleggera in 2018. More than half a century after the original arrived, the storied nameplate and its legacy continue to endure.
Hand-built in Gaydon, England, this particular chapter combines traditional grand-touring abilities with race-derived materials, Bond provenance, and an increasingly elusive manual gearbox, creating one of the last great naturally aspirated V12 manuals. It also features prominently on our list of overlooked analog exotics to have on your radar.
