Aston Martins for Sale! Not Ever Like This One…

I am not going to do the obvious quotes like `The names Bond…James Bond` – apart from that one – for this most exciting bit of luxury auction news.

On 27th October, RM Auctions will offer the ORIGINAL Aston Martin DB5, as driven by Sean Connery in Goldfinger and Thunderball.

This is amazing. The best Bond in the Best Bond car, in the best Bond films.

The star lot at its annual `Automobiles of London` event at the Battersea Evolution in London, the DB5 is expected to achieve in excess of £3.5 million (over $5 million US). The car is being offered by RM Auctions in association with Sotheby`s, with whom RM has worked in the past.

With its original and Iconic UK registration number, FMP 7B, this Aston Martin is one of only two, and the sole remaining, of the original `007` DB5s as featured on screen with Sean Connery. RM have ensured the car is ready for action after years of not being driven.

Available for sale for the first time in history, The DB5 was originally returned to the Aston Martin Lagonda factory after filming of the two films was completed along with its promotional tour.

Mr. Jerry Lee, an American radio broadcaster based in Philadelphia, PA, convinced the factory to sell FMP 7B to him for $12,000 in 1969, thereby becoming its first and only ex-factory owner. It has remained in his possession and has rarely been seen publicly over the past 40+ years.

Mr. Lee plans to use the proceeds from the auction for his charitable trust…this all just gets better and better!

This car was, for me, when Q came into his own. The gadgets on board left me in awe as a child.

The Best Bond movie car is factory-fitted with the full complement of operational `Q-Branch` gadgets, including machine guns, bullet-proof shield, revolving number plates, tracking device, removable roof panel, oil slick sprayer, nail spreader and smoke screen, all controlled from factory-installed toggles and switches hidden in the centre arm-rest.

So many memories, this is one special car.