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2008 Aston Martin DBS – Regretfully Withdrawn

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  • MileageUnder ~13,000
  • TransmissionManual
  • Engine5.9L
  • LocationSouth Warnborough

AUCTION CLOSED

2008 Aston Martin DBS – Regretfully Withdrawn

Register interest for similar cars

Introduction

Darren Rungasamy
Photographer and Editor

The DBS grabs attention for its elegance and performance; this car has another trick up its sleeve.

Aston Martin's connection with James Bond is considered one of the most lucrative and prestigious automotive marketing campaigns. The timing of the new era of Bond coincided with the introduction of the flagship Aston Martin DBS and debuted on film two years before the sale of the car. Derived from the DB9, the DBS provided a more aggressive stance, enhanced by a deep sculpted chin and carbon winglets, extended sills, bonnet vents and a dramatic rear diffuser. The use of carbon fibre composite body panels, stiffer suspension, carbon ceramic brakes and uprated power gave the DBS a definitive sporty focus over the DB9, and guided by the DBS’s relatively short production run, places it as one of the most desirable and rarest of the modern-era Aston Martins.

Built in June 2008, this "Lightning Silver" example with an "Obsidian Black" semi-aniline leather and Alcantara-trimmed interior is a particularly early production car and believed to be one of 30 demo cars fitted with the initial 'launch' 6-speed manual gearbox, before the full launch of the DBS later that year. The owner confirms it has a mileage reading of under ~13,000 miles.

While the desirability of being an early car, a low-mileage car fitted with a manual gearbox model, may have piqued your interest, this car also has a unique factor. Entered in two Gumball rallies, the DBS has been treated with a unique UV-Charged paint finish, which can store light energy and emit a strong glow for up to 10 hours. Applied by Nevana Designs, which uses the technology patented by award-winning inventor Hamish Scott, we can proudly announce that this DBS is a genuine one-off. Used to help publicise the car's presence at the Gumball event, it also served as a promotion for the glow-in-the-dark paint, in which the DBS is just one of two cars in the world to have been treated.

The car has been kept in dry storage since 2020, and will need attention to the EML on and its bodywork, but otherwise is in good working order and has been owned by the same person since new.

This listing was written from information supplied by Darren after meeting David the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

It's one of the most gorgeous and balanced-styled cars I've ever seen.

David has a taste for adventure and wanted to participate in the world-famous 3000-mile Gumball rally. Not just content with using the DBS, he also wanted a car that would stand out by making it glow in the dark. Its unique UV coating gained considerable press interest, including a place in Top Gear magazine's top ten Gumball cars.

Still adorned with its (removable) decals and phosphorescent finish, it has been kept in dry storage for the last 5 years.

Due to its lack of use and an imminent relocation, David is keen to move the car on and he will be happy to answer any questions about the car in the comments section below.

David
Vehicle Owner

Ask Questions

CONTACT OWNER

Exterior

Underneath the UV paint is a solid car just in need of some cosmetics.

Wheels and Tyres

The 20-inch twin ten-spoke alloy wheels look smart, there is some minor kerb damage on the offside front wheel, but it seems like it could easily be treated.

The Pirelli P Zero 2008 tyres have even tread - the nearside front tyre has a small chunk missing from the sidewall.

Bodywork

The underside and structure of the car looks positive. We didn’t see any issues in the engine bay or wheel wells.

The panel fit is flush to the body, and the car is free of dents- all of the doors open and close with ease, with decent hinges and struts.

We just saw some corrosion issues manifesting as bubbling under the paintwork; these were spotted on the nearside A-pillar, the roof above both side pillars and above the rear glass. There were also blemishes on the offside rear arch.

We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our high-resolution images and videos, so please take time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer, and for you to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

Originally ordered in Lightning Silver, David used the specialist service of Nevana Designs to apply a unique glow-in-the-dark paint finish on top of a wrap. Therefore, the lustre of the original Silver paint finish cannot be ascertained, but the coat has been well applied.

The finish is starting to age, show blistering on most panels, but presents well and is free of scuffs. There is a light residue of a chalky-salt substance, but this appears to be easily cleaned.

The decals (and the unique glow paint) can be removed and Nevana will be available to recoat the car in the same glow-in-the-dark finish if required.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these high-resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

There is a small chip on the windscreen, but it is only flagged as a minor MOT advisory. The rest of the glass and seals are in good shape, and the light lenses are free of marks or ageing.

The grill has surface marks, but otherwise, the body trim is well-mounted and in good shape.

The carbon-fibre front splitter has a little damage.

Interior

The gauges remain classic and mechanical; this DBS also has a well-kept interior.

Seats and Carpets

The DBS Motif Obsidian Black semi-aniline leather with Alcantara-trim seats are in excellent shape, a valet would make them perfect.

The carpets are all in good shape and are all damp-free.

The boot shows the lightest of use.

Dashboard

The leather dashboard, facia and centre console is smartly presented with no wear or significant marks. It would also benefit a valet, but the main functions, such as the windows lifters, mirror and satnav function work with no problems.

While the manual cluster dials read as they should, the digital mileometer was not operational on the day, and we couldn't get a current mileage reading, however, David told us that fewer than 1,000 miles have been travelled since the last MOT that recorded 12,228 miles.

The door cards and Alcantara heading are in good shape, the trim behind the seats is also in good condition, but again, perhaps in need of a clean up.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The steering wheel displays well, and there is mild wear on the gear lever.

Mechanics

It has a positive mechanical maintenance history and has proven reliability.

Engine and Gearbox

The car starts up without any issues, idling evenly with no unwanted noises. The expected cold-engine exhaust condensation didn’t take long to evaporate, and the engine maintained an even beat on tick-over. The dashboard has an engine management light on, which will need further investigation.

The engine is cleanly presented with no signs of wear and it has been maintained by the Aston Martin dealers.

The 6-speed gearbox was not properly tested, but it engages the low gears and reverse with no adverse effects.

Suspension and Brakes

The suspension shows mild signs of surface age, as to be expected for a car that has seen little use in recent years, but at low speeds, we didn’t hear any creaks or unwanted noises.

The car has carbon fibre brake discs fitted with black Aston Martin-branded calipers, and as such, we couldn’t test their performance at speed, but the drive around the path didn’t suggest any issues.

The Drive

Tauter, quicker and more agile than a DB9, the DBS retains its positive virtues but offers far more drama and verve. The free-revving V12 6.0-litre engine has a reputation for its smoothness, yet a firm prod of the pedal produces a deep and melodic growl, allowing you to access, control and enjoy all that torque and 510 bhp of power.

This car doesn’t have a current MOT, so we were not able to conduct a meaningful test drive on the open road, but David took us for a slow drive around a private path to allow us to experience the movement and controls of the Aston Martin.

The steering is free of wobbles with no play, and we crept along with no immediate issues with the ride or brakes. The engine comes up to temperature without any problems, and David has not experienced any issues in terms of oil pressure or engine temperature since he bought the car new.

We left the engine running for 10-15 minutes during a very hot day, with no ill effects to the gauges.

Electrics and Other

The car has an indoor cover and has been consistently stored in the owner's garage.

History and Paperwork

This has to be an exciting project for an proper Aston Martin fan as the car is believed to be one of the first DBSs in production.

Bought new from Stoneygate Aston Martin in June 2008, this is an early model in the production run of the DBS. David has informed us that the salesperson assured him that this was only the second model to have been produced; Aston Martin themselves may be able to verify this.

The car has been maintained by Aston Martin main dealer with three instances of servicing - the most recent service was carried out at 11,909.

It comes with its owner's booklet and several service invoices. It has its Swarovski crystal key that Aston Martin likes to refer to as the “Emotional Control Unit”.

David told is some details about the DBS:

Limited Production in 2008: "Aston 1936" states that only 30 DBS cars were produced for the 2008 model year, and "almost all appear to be demonstrators / press cars." This indicates a very low number of cars available for initial customer registration.

Early Registrations: We know that some DBS cars were indeed registered in May and June 2008. For example, one car had a "Pre-delivery Inspection" (PDI) in May 2008 and another was sold to its first owner in June 2008. This suggests that a few cars would have hit the roads during these months.

Given the extremely limited production for 2008 (only 30 cars globally for that model year, with many being demonstrators), it's highly probable that the number of DBS cars registered in the UK in May and June 2008 would have been very small, likely in the single digits for each month, if not just a handful across both months. These would have been among the very first customer cars to be delivered.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a history check on the vehicle - this is a professional check operated by HPI that will highlight if the car has been previously stolen, recorded as being in an accident, or have any outstanding finance - note, this does not include a mileage history check.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment of the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bids, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History
Date Type Mileage
10-01-2019 MOT 12,228
31-05-2016 MOT 11,917
01-06-2016 Aston Martin Service 11,909
15-05-2015 Aston Martin Service 7,790
13-05-2015 MOT 7,788
05-06-2014 MOT 5,629
05-06-2014 60k Service 5,622
20-06-2013 MOT 3,826
30-05-2012 MOT 2,448
28-09-2011 30k Service 2,417
24-09-2010 Aston Martin Service 2,049
Key Details
  • ModelDBS
  • Transmission6-Speed Manual
  • Reg. Date26-06-2008
  • CC5935
  • MileageUnder ~13,000 (Owner Stated)
  • ColourWhite
  • Interior ColourBlack
  • Interior TrimAlcantara/leather
  • Chassis #SCFAA05D99GE00208
  • Engine #AM08/22144
  • MOTExpired 10-01-2019
  • MOT ExemptNo
  • Road Tax ExemptNo
  • HPi ClearYes - all clear
  • Former Keepers0
  • Tyre BrandPirelli P-Zero
  • Tyre Age2008
  • LHD or RHDRHD
  • VisitedYes
  • Sale TypePrivate
  • OwnedSince New
  • Key FeatureUnique Car
  • Vehicle RegistrationDM08 DBS
  • Driver’s SideRight
  • Fuel TypePetrol
  • Body Type2-door Coupe
  • Auction ID2999






Auction Closed

Let us know if you're interested

This car didn't meet its reserve price and may soon be available as a private sale - please contact us for more information or let us know if you want to be notified when a similar car comes to market.

I'M INTERESTED
Ask Questions
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12 Comments
purso
purso
9 months ago

Can I arrange to see the car please.

Hazy
Hazy
9 months ago

Hi. Can you get the records then please

ColinB
ColinB
Admin
  Hazy
9 months ago

Hi,

David sent over the record, you can view it here:

https://www.tradeclassics.com/auctions/aston-martin/2008-aston-martin-dbs-v12/#gallery5-10

Thanks,
Colin.

Hazy
Hazy
  ColinB
9 months ago

Thanks for that, but I cannot see an invoice nor a book stamp for the following services:
28/9/11 2417 miles
26/3/13 3514 miles
5/6/14 5622 miles
Can you provide some evidence of these, otherwise there is a 5 year hole in the servicing?

Hazy
Hazy
  Hazy
9 months ago

I saw that David said the dealer will have records on their system, but
A. which dealer is this
B. I don’t think they will allow me to access the records because of GDPR

Hazy
Hazy
9 months ago

Hi why has it been serviced so infrequently?

w88nee
w88nee
9 months ago

Hello, are you open to viewings of the car before the auction ends, if so how do we arrange this. Thank you

ColinB
ColinB
Admin
  w88nee
9 months ago

Hi,

We can help arrange a viewing for you, if you could send an email to [email protected] first as we need to do a couple of checks first.

Thanks,
Colin.

Ronanokane
Ronanokane
9 months ago

Hi David

Can you tell me if the bubbling under the wrap at the a pillar and various places above the doors is due to body corrosion or an issue with the wrap?
is the The EML the orange triangle with the exclamation mark?
Any idea what is triggering this?
Thanks
Ronan

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Vehicle Location

South Warnborough, Hampshire

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