What: 1972 Aston Martin DBS V8 Color: Hermès Orange (unknown) Chassis #: V8/10519/RCA Mileage: 72,528 kilometers, 45,066 miles Estimated Price: US$130,000 – US$180,000 CarFax: N/A Window Sticker: N/A Location: Bonhams Les Grandes Marques du Monde à Paris Auction, Paris, France Auction listing:Link
Why we love it:
Spoiler alert. The car you see here has been repainted, but in grand style and a truly unique shade that makes it so very one-of-a-kind that we can’t not report on it. The car you see here was actually delivered new as a right-hand drive coupé painted Cairngorm Brown with an Olive interior – a very subdued British car for a British customer who lived not far from the Aston Martin factory.
After shuffling through a few well-accounted for owners, the car shifted to the ownership of a prominent Emir in 2010 who commissioned a conversion to left-hand drive and a color change inside and out to Hermès orange.
From there it went to its current owner, who had it restored by Le Clos de Calatrava in collaboration with Aston Martin Works UK, completing that job in October 2024. Even still, the unique orange on orange color choice was retained.
The car is now ready for its next owner and will be sold as part of Bonhams’ Les Grandes Marques du Monde à Paris Auction in early February.
In the grand scheme of things, 2010 isn’t exactly the age of classic car we’ve come to expect from major auction house sales at concours weeks such as Monterey. So, when a newer car makes a showing, it’s usually very special or very tailored. In that vein, this green-on-green DBS Volante (chassis # SCFFDCCD2AGE11881) breathed on by in-house Aston Martin tailoring department Q definitely qualifies.
In this case, the car’s exterior is referred to as California Sage, while the interior is Absynthe Green. With only about 845 Volantes believed to have been produced, the drop-top DBS is already rare. However, green-on-green is a whole other level of rare… even from a British marque.
This car will be up for sale as part of RM Sotheby’s Monterey auction. We’re going to go ahead and share the full model description from RM below, but make sure to follow the link HERE in order to see the full photo gallery and learn information on where and when to bid.
Lot #208: 2010 Aston Martin DBS Volante
Aston Martin’s luxurious open-top flagship; timeless styling meets modern performance
Finished in Q-specification California Sage over an Absynthe Green leather interior
Thrilling 5.9-liter naturally aspirated V-12 producing 510 hp
Driven a modest 16,172 miles at cataloguing; carefully maintained and accompanied by service invoices
One of only 845 DBS Volantes believed to have been produced in total
When it debuted at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, the DBS Volante brought together two legendary names from Aston Martin’s past that, to devotees of the marque, needed no introduction.
First, DBS. The inaugural DBS arrived in 1967, toward the tail end of Aston Martin’s crucial David Brown era, as a muscular yet elegant tourer. The DBS nameplate was revived in 2007; true to form, it was an imposing machine wrapped in instant-classic styling. Motivation came from a 510-horsepower version of the company’s 5.9-liter V-12, which could be paired with either six-speed manual or six-speed automatic gearboxes.
Second is Volante. Italian for “flying,” it has—since the introduction of the DB Short-Wheelbase Volante in 1965—been used to denote convertible versions of Aston Martin’s exquisite tourers. More than that, the word instantly conjures the carefree thrills and romance that one can only experience behind the wheel of a fine open-top automobile.
Of course, one need not be a student of Aston Martin history to recognize that the DBS Volante is something special. Luxurious features abound, including a power fabric top that can stow away in as little in 15 seconds at speeds of up to 30 mph. Adaptive driving modes and carbon-ceramic brakes provide confident handling and secure stopping no matter how spirited one decides to get behind the wheel.
With only 845 examples believed to have been built in total, the DBS Volante is an undoubtedly rare beast. The car offered here further distinguishes itself with its stunning color combination: Q-specification California Sage over an Absynthe Green leather interior. Further options include the six-speed automatic transmission, 10-spoke diamond-turned Silver wheels, Magnum Silver meshes and Silver fascia trim inlays, and seatbelts in Warm Charcoal.
Enhancing its desirability, this DBS Volante has enjoyed a life of modest use and diligent care. After its acquisition by the consignor in 2019, it has been treated to regular maintenance as well as close attention to cosmetic condition, with further service to ensure proper operation of its convertible top; invoices on file detail the work performed. At the time of cataloguing, the car displayed only 16,272 miles.
Positioned as Aston Martin’s flagship convertible tourer when new, and every bit as impressive today, the DBS Volante seems destined to age as finely as the British marque’s great historical offerings. With its striking specification and history of limited use, this is an example worthy of careful consideration by the discriminating collector.
