BLENHEIM, Ontario, June
25, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- RM Sotheby's has announced "the most
famous car in the world" and the most iconic Aston Martin of all
time to lead 'An Evening with Aston Martin', a special
single-marque sale at the company's Monterey auction on 15 August.
RM Sotheby's will present a James
Bond 1965 Aston Martin DB5, one of just three
surviving examples commissioned in period by Eon Productions and
fitted with MI6 Q Branch modifications.
In 1963, two near-identical cars were built by Aston Martin and
loaned to Eon Productions for the filming of Goldfinger; one
for stunt driving and chase sequences, and the other for interior
shots and close-ups, to be equipped with functional modifications
by special effects guru John Stears.
As legendary weapons-master Q would explain to 007, the DB5 was
equipped with front and rear hydraulic over-rider rams on the
bumpers, a Browning .30 caliber machine gun in each fender,
wheel-hub mounted tire-slashers, a raising rear bullet-proof
screen, an in-dash radar tracking scope, oil, caltrop and smoke
screen dispensers, revolving license plates, a passenger-seat
ejection system, a telephone in the driver's door to communicate
with MI6 headquarters, and a hidden compartment under the driver's
seat containing several weapons.
The smash success of Goldfinger led producers to order
two more DB5s; chassis nos. DB5/2008/R, the example on offer by
RM Sotheby's, and DB5/2017/R. The two cars were fitted with all
Bond modifications and shipped to the U.S. for promotional duties
for Thunderball.
Reached through his son, Stephane
Connery, legendary actor Sean
Connery, who portrayed James
Bond on film in both Goldfinger and
Thunderball said: "These DB5s are amazing – I
remember the Furka Pass tire shredding as well as the promotional
events with these cars – they have become increasingly iconic since
Goldfinger and Thunderball, in fact I bought a very fine DB5 myself
relatively recently."
Under current ownership, the DB5 has undergone a well-documented
restoration by Aston Martin Heritage Specialists Roos Engineering,
with all thirteen Bond modifications refurbished to function as
originally built. One of three surviving examples, having had just
three private owners over 50 years, the DB5 offers a highly
desirable acquisition for the serious marque collector…or secret
agent (Estimate: $4,000,000 -
$6,000,000).
More: rmsothebys.com.
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SOURCE RM Sotheby's