2009 Aston Martin DBS Volante

The DBS Volante represents Aston Martin's grand touring apex from the late 2000s — a car that makes the case for open-air V12 motoring more convincingly than almost anything else of its era. Positioned above the DB9 and built on the bonded aluminium VH platform, the DBS brought uprated suspension, carbon ceramic brakes, and a 510 bhp naturally aspirated 6.0-litre V12 with a more purposeful character than its sibling. As a Volante, the folding soft-top adds negligible weight while preserving the coupe's 191 mph capability, a combination that remains difficult to argue with.

This 2009 car has covered just 11,698 miles — exceptional for a sixteen-year-old machine and a strong indication of careful, infrequent use. The Silver exterior is a clean foil for the DBS's long bonnet and muscular rear haunches, and the optional specification is well-judged: B&O BeoSound audio, 20-inch diamond-turned silver alloys, carbon door pulls, heated sports seats, and piano black veneer with integrated sat nav give it genuine substance beyond the standard car.

At this mileage, the DBS Volante occupies a compelling position in the market. These hand-built Gaydon-era Astons are now old enough that low-mileage, well-documented examples command a meaningful premium — and justifiably so. Finding one this fresh, in a tidy specification, is increasingly uncommon.