Unlike the "gadget-mobiles" of the franchise's past, this DBS was a tool of survival: no missiles, no invisibility cloaks — just pure mechanics and V12 fury. But the most interesting drama didn't happen on screen; it happened behind the scenes, where reality proved far more dangerous than the script.

The Lake Garda Incident: The Real Story

Many sources mistakenly claim that the famous DBS plunge into Lake Garda was a failed stunt by a professional driver. The truth is both more prosaic and more terrifying.

The driver behind the wheel of the black DBS (a filming chassis) was not a stuntman, but Fraser Dunn — an Aston Martin engineer tasked with simply delivering the car to the set. On a morning of torrential rain, on a narrow serpentine road, Fraser lost control.

The car smashed through the barrier and plummeted 8 meters down, sinking 55 meters into the lake.

The engineer miraculously survived by smashing the window and swimming to the surface — a feat worthy of 007 himself.

Important Detail: The true tragedy involving the stunt team occurred days later with a different car. Stunt driver Aris Comninos was critically injured while driving the Alfa Romeo 159 pursuing Bond. This serves as a grim reminder that the Quantum of Solace chase was filmed "for real," with minimal CGI.

MOVIEN MARKET WATCH | Investment Note

While general audiences revisit the film, sophisticated collectors are engaged in a genuine hunt for "Bond’s car." However, it is crucial for the potential investor to understand that not all Aston Martin DBS models are created equal: the market for this vehicle has clearly split into two distinct tiers.

The first category occupies the "Standard Market," represented by models equipped with the Touchtronic automatic transmission. Undoubtedly, the automatic gearbox makes the DBS an excellent Grand Tourer, yet it acts as the primary limiting factor for investment potential. With current valuations ranging from $85,000 to $100,000, these vehicles offer an accessible entry point into the elite V12 club. While they demonstrate stable value retention, investors should not anticipate rapid capital appreciation in this segment.

A completely different dynamic is observed in the second segment, which can be best described as "The Holy Grail." Examples featuring the six-speed manual gearbox—the correct specification matching the film car—have transformed into true investment gold. The market has fully priced in the reality that the era of the naturally aspirated, manual V12 is gone forever, a realization that has dramatically impacted valuations. Prices for these models have surged to between $150,000 and $220,000+, commanding a premium of up to 100% over their automatic counterparts. This trend was vividly confirmed in late 2025, when rare manual Carbon Edition examples broke the $200,000 mark at major auctions, definitively cementing their status as blue-chip collectibles.