Genuine James Bond 007 Aston Martin DB5 for auction – with functioning gadgets!

By: Alex Affat, Unique Cars magazine

Date: 17.06.2019

One of three surviving 007-spec DB5s: an unrepeatable opportunity to own "the most famous car in the world"!

RM Sotheby’s is set to present ‘an evening with Aston Martin’, a dedicated single-marque auction taking place during Monterey Car Week on August 15.

The headline lot is none other than a genuine James Bond 1965 Aston Martin DB5, complete with 13 functioning Q-Branch gadgets such as wheel-hub tyre slashers, smoke screen dispensers, revolving licence plates… and a Browning .30 caliber machine gun in each fender!

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RM Sotheby’s cites a pre-auction estimate between AU$5.8 million to AU$8.7 million.

Originally, two cars were built by Eon Productions for the filming of Goldfinger. Following the film’s standout box-office success, DB5 sales surged to unprecedented levels. Producers at Eon also took notice, and saw the potential for further Bond-car marketing opportunities.

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Before the 1965 Bond film ‘Thunderball’ released, Eon Production built a further two DB5s to join the Thunderball’s promotional tour across the United States. The two DB5s - including the car on sale here, DB5/2008/R – were fitted with all the original Goldfinger gadgets and present as identical to the movie cars as you can get.

Following the promotional circuit and Thunderball’s release, the cars were quietly sold in 1969. The cars were purchased as a pair by well-known collector, Lord Anthony Bamford (who is also the only individual in the world to own two Ferrari 250 GTOs). The original Aston Martin build record lists Eon Productions as the original owner, with the file and chassis records annotated as a genuine "Bond Car".

Lord Bamford sold this DB5 shortly thereafter, to B.H. Atchley, owner of the Smokey Mountain Car Museum in Tennsessee. The car was a cornerstone of the museum’s collection, and remained on display in unrestored but pristine condition, with regular start-ups.

The car was then sold by RM Sothebys in 2006, to the tune of AU$3 million.

Following the 2006 sale, the car underwent a no-expense spared restoration at the hands of Swiss specialists Roos Engineering. Roos Engineering is one of 13 firms of whom Aston Martin have appointed as official Heritage Specialists.

The car’s chassis and body were completely restored, as were all 13 Q-Branch gadgets.

Of the four original ‘Bond Cars’, the first has been lost since 1997 – with this car one of the later two built from new to 007-specification. With just three owners from new and in immaculate restored condition, this car sees an unrepeatable opportunity to purchase what’s been called "the most famous car in the world".

This car will headline RM Sotheby’s Aston Martin-dedicated auction along with 30 of Aston Martin’s most sought-after road and race cars, August 15 2019.

We will check back with results once the auction takes place.

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