The surprisingly parallel stories of both Aston Martin and Bond have become intertwined, perhaps inextricably, in terms of their respective impact on both pop culture and each other. Ever since the producers of 1964’s Goldfinger, the third James Bond movie, begged David Brown to loan them a DB5 for filming.

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It was a heady time for the Aston Martin brand, which had vaulted into the spotlight on the strength of the racing performance and eye-searing styling of each of the DB cars to date.

Still, nothing could prepare it for the extra attention brought about by Sean Connery’s charisma and the worldwide phenomenon that was 007.

At the moment at Beverly Hills Car Club we have a superb example of such a Bond car, a left-hand-drive 1971 Aston Martin DBS V8 Saloon that is finished in red complemented with a black interior.

This rare example is #111 out of only 399 ever produced. Equipped with an automatic transmission, V8 engine, front-wheel disc brakes, dual exhaust outlets, Smiths instruments, Lucas ammeter gauge, quad headlamps, chrome trim/bumpers, dual headrests, Kienzle analog clock, Philips radio, sun visors, ‘V8’ badges, dual-side mirrors, lockable glove compartment, alloy wheels with General XP 2000 V4 tires, three-spoke steering wheel, and a full-size spare tire fitted in the trunk. An extremely scarce DBS to acquire, this is such an exciting opportunity to be a part of a select few to own a piece of British automobile history that is mechanically sound.

Towns brought Americana-type design to the UK: the DBS, built from 1967 to 1972, took on more modern styling, including a fastback-style rear and a more muscular front design, that was a new direction from the more traditional ‘DB’ series of Aston Martins. The layout of the DBS, with its brilliant engine in the front, and where you sit relative to the engine, makes the car and gives it its presence.

Breaking with tradition in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service the DBS didn’t have gadgets – the car itself was the gadget. (Although in the movie the DBS did have an ArmaLite AR-7 in the glove-box.)

The car was draped in flowers for 007’s wedding to Tracy, who is tragically killed later in the film.

While it was never to be a Bond car again, this very same DBS did make a very brief cameo in 1971’s Diamonds are Forever, with rocket missiles being loaded into its bonnet. But it doesn’t appear being driven in that movie at all.

While a Bentley may have been the first car driven by James Bond in Ian Fleming’s novels, the author introduced the Aston Martin DB3 in Goldfinger, the seventh Bond novel, following a suggestion from a fan. 007 and Aston Martin have been entwined ever since.

Pairing Craig with the debut of the DBS certainly helped, as Casino Royale became the first Bond film to have two different Aston Martins actively feature in the same film.

The DBS would meet an inglorious end. As Bond swerved away from impacting Eva Green’s character, Vesper Lynd, his Aston Martin rolled seven times, setting a Guinness World Record for the most cannon rolls in a car in the process.

Aston Martin provided four hand-built DBS prototypes for the film, playing its part in revitalising James Bond for the modern audience.

-Alex Manos, Owner