The most iconic Aston Martins head to Goodwood Auction

By: Alex Affat, Unique Cars magazine

Date: 25.05.2018

James Bond’s DB5 and a rare ex-Le Mans Zagato are the headliners of Bonham's Festival of Speed Sale

Big news for Aston Martin fans, as two of the most collectible and historically significant examples are set to cross the block at Bonham’s Goodwood Festival of Speed Sale on the 13^th of July.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed attracts some of the world’s most valuable and important cars, and the Bonham’s auction is often a rare chance, and the perfect setting, for these cars to hit the market.

One of these cars is a 1965 Aston Martin DB5, a blue-chip collectible by any standard.

Though this DB5 possibly boasts the most provenance of all - as it is THE James Bond car that appeared in the iconic opening chase scene of 1995’s GoldenEye. Helmed by Pierce Brosnan, the scene took place in the hills above Monaco and involved the villainess of the film in a 1995 Ferrari F355.

The current owner purchased it in 2001, which saw it become the most valuable piece of James bond memorabilia ever sold.

Since then it has been on display at the Bond in Motion exhibit in Covent Garden and the Beaulieu National Motor Museum in England.

The estimate is set at £1.2 million to 1.6 million pounds.

The other Aston Martin is a rare intersection between factory works race car, and coachbuilding design house, Zagato.

The 1961 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato ‘2 VEV’ is arguably the most significant of all cars penned by Carrozzeria Zagato.

There were only two "VEV"quasi-works cars built, and is one of only three Aston Martin’s built upon the ultralight DP209 chassis.

The car was raced by Jimmy Clark and comes from a single-family custodian who have owned it for nearly 50 years.

‘2 VEV’ was raced in the RAC Tourist Trophy race at Goodwood in 1961 and 1962, and was the car deemed to take the fight to Ferrari.

The car was raced in the Le Mans 24 hours, and in the Paris 1000 where it placed 6^th.

The car was a prominent appearance at various historic races throughout the 80s, and underwent a full Aston Martin factory restoration in the mid-90s, since which its on-track appearances have slowed.

It’s a rare car in its own right, and coupled with its extensive racing provenance and outstanding condition – there’s tremendous weight to Bonhams naming it "the most valuable British car ever offered in Europe".

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