Thursday 13th June 2019

"No, Mr Bond, I expect you to buy!"

One of four Goldfinger DB5s is being sold; get exercising that paddle arm, and set aside $5m..

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While it may not be everyone's favourite, there can be no doubt that the Aston Martin DB5 is the most iconic vehicle used by Ian Fleming's MI6 agent. Even 54 years after Goldfinger's release, the majority of fans still associate Bond primarily with the DB5, helped in no small part by subsequent 007 Aston appearances and its cameo in Skyfall. So this is pretty significant; here's an opportunity to purchase a DB5 with machine guns in the wings, tyre slashers in the wheels and revolving licence plates...

Yep, this is a Goldfinger DB5, chassis number 2008/R and originally owned by Eon Productions. Well, it sort of is. Two cars were used for Goldfinger filming, the movie's success significantly bolstering DB5 sales and Eon keen to cash in on what was already becoming a very famous car and franchise. So this Aston Martin was a promotional vehicle for Thunderball, kitted out with everything Q division (or rather, special effects man John Stears) fitted to the Goldfinger cars - hydraulic rams on the bumpers, the bullet-proof screen, the smokescreen, ejector seat and in-dash radar. This chassis is one of two promotional cars used for the US Thunderball tour, and therefore one of only three ever made in exact Goldfinger spec (because the fourth was stripped out for chase scenes); it may lack the movie star boast, but 2008/R is still a pretty special DB5.

Having been sold off in 1969, that owner then sold the DB5 to America, where it sat in the Smokey Mountain Car Museum for 35 years before being sold by RM Sotheby's in 2006. Now it's auctioning the Aston once more, fully restored thanks to the work of Roos Engineering in Switzerland - an approved Aston Heritage Specialist. Even the modifications were refurbished, and the results speak for themselves.

The DB5 will be sold in a sale called 'An Evening with Aston Martin', taking place on August 15th, an auction dedicated to the marque as part of RM's Monterey season. The estimate, should you have to ask, is $4,000,000 - $6,000,000. Still, there must be a few Bond fans among the world's super wealthy; get two of them in the room in August and who knows what might happen...

 

[Evercross]

Just..........yeah!

[Hongkongfooi]

thats soo cool

[Hurricane52]

Nick Mee once told me that the Goldfinger Astons were actually modified DB4 GTs because the DB5 wasn’t ready in time for filming. I guess this one is indeed a 5 as it was built afterwards. Perhaps some old chap at Aston will come along and let us know.

Nice car.

[Mattjevans]

£5m for this, and perhaps the continued profitability of KFC, is evidence of the ultimate stupidity of humanity.

[r5kdt]

...and you can drive this one on the road

[Esceptico]

When I was ten this would probably have been the coolest car on the planet. Fortunately I’m not ten any more. A DB4 is so much nicer but even then tainted in my eyes by association with OO7, which AM have shamelessly overused in recent years.

[LotusOmega375D]

Hurricane52 said:

Nick Mee once told me that the Goldfinger Astons were actually modified DB4 GTs because the DB5 wasn’t ready in time for filming. I guess this one is indeed a 5 as it was built afterwards. Perhaps some old chap at Aston will come along and let us know.

Nice car.

I understood the original car was a DB4 Series V (not a SWB GT) for the reason you quoted.

So has anyone on here got THE original film scenes Aston DB5 stashed away somewhere? It's not been seen in public since it was nicked in 1997.

[healeyneil]

When the uk one was doing its tour I got my mum to take me into the dealers , where I joined a queue of small boys to sit in the car. Glasgow, I assume 1964. I think that's where I got my love of classic cars!

[Dave Hedgehog]

anyone got 5mill down the back of the sofa they can lend me

[VanquishRider]

Hurricane52 said:

Nick Mee once told me that the Goldfinger Astons were actually modified DB4 GTs because the DB5 wasn’t ready in time for filming. I guess this one is indeed a 5 as it was built afterwards. Perhaps some old chap at Aston will come along and let us know.

Nice car.

It's true

[C7 JFW]

Driving tastefully.

[E65Ross]

Mattjevans said:

£5m for this, and perhaps the continued profitability of KFC, is evidence of the ultimate stupidity of humanity.

Yes, someone who can afford to just splash out £5m on a car is stupid, they should take lessons in how to not be stupid from you, it seems.

[Shakermaker]

Dave Hedgehog said:

anyone got 5mill down the back of the sofa they can lend me

Or better yet, lend it to me so that I can buy it?

Anyone who donates at least £4.99m can borrow it for one weekend a year...

[WCZ]

Mattjevans said:

£5m for this, and perhaps the continued profitability of KFC, is evidence of the ultimate stupidity of humanity.

kfc is nice

[JohnGoodridge]

Esceptico said:

When I was ten this would probably have been the coolest car on the planet. Fortunately I’m not ten any more. A DB4 is so much nicer but even then tainted in my eyes by association with OO7, which AM have shamelessly overused in recent years.

Yes. When it comes to Bond's DB5 this is about as far as I would extend.

[unsprung]

nice play on one of the all-time best lines in cinema, that headline

and now people spin it in their posts on Instagram and the like; meme status and all that

[Cotty]

Its nice but its not 5 million nice

[Hurricane52]

LotusOmega375D said:

I understood the original car was a DB4 Series V (not a SWB GT) for the reason you quoted.

So has anyone on here got THE original film scenes Aston DB5 stashed away somewhere? It's not been seen in public since it was nicked in 1997.

You’re right, he did say series V. My memory isn’t what it was.

[LotusOmega375D]

Hmm rather like your Dad...

[deejay005]

In the box on the passenger seat I spy a gun, case and grenade but what’s the other object?

Butter knife?!