Bid On James Bond’s Iconic Aston Martin and Other Classic Cars At Historic Auction
License to thrill.
On Aug. 15 in Monterey, CA right before the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, RM Sotheby’s will stage what is shaping up to be the most epic Aston Martin-only sale of all time. Dubbed An Evening with Aston Martin, it will feature one of the original James Bond DB5s as well as an ultra-rare 1953 DB3S/2 race car, an equally exclusive 1965 DB5 Shooting Brake, and a 1961 DB4GT.
The Bond car, conservatively estimated at $4 million to $6 million — we expect it will sell for much more – was used in both Goldfinger and Thunderball.
It features all of Q Branch’s famous gadgets including hydraulic battering rams on the front and rear bumpers, a .30-caliber machine gun in each fender, wheel-mounted tire slashers, a retractable bulletproof screen, an in-dash radar-tracking scope, a smoke screen, revolving license plates, a secret weapons drawer, and a passenger-seat ejection system.
As we reported previously Aston is recreating this exact car for $3.5 million but the original is 100 times cooler. It spent 35 years on display at the Smokey Mountain Car Museum in Tennessee and has had only three owners since it was retired from filming.
The 1953 DB3S/2 racer was competed in some of the most prestigious motorsport events of the 1950s including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the British Grand Prix, the 12 Hours of Sebring, and the Mille Miglia, making it an icon of motor racing history.
Of course it is painted British racing green, and was campaigned in period by motorsports legend Peter Collins.
One of the most interesting Astons ever built, and a holy grail for collectors, the 1965 DB5 Shooting Brake is the ultimate English gentleman’s ride, custom made for shooting parties at lavish country estates. Estimated at up to $1.4 million, it’s one of just 12 that originated at the Aston factory.
Call it what Bond would drive on his day off.
Even more valuable is the ultra-rare 1961 Aston Martin DB4GT, estimated at up to $3.4 million. A limited edition lightweight, high-performance version of the DB4, its a sight to behold whether at full speed or standing still.
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Check out the clip of the Bond car above, and get ready to write a really big check if you’re thinking of getting into the Aston Martin collecting game.