1965 Aston Martin DB5 “Bond Car”

There are few vehicles in the history of movies more iconic than Bond cars and if you consider yourself an aficionado of the spy franchise, you’ve got the chance to add the ultimate luxury car to your collection with this 1965 Aston Martin DB5 “Bond Car” which is going up for auction with RM Sotheby’s. This stunning vehicle is one of the most famous cars in the world and the opportunity to own it will only come about once in a lifetime.

This 1965 Aston Martin DB5 “Bond Car” is one of two examples which were directly purchased by Eon Productions for the launch of the Thunderball James Bond Movie and it boasts such a breathtaking visual impact that it will undoubtedly be the stand out piece in any collection. It is the third of four examples which were built as per Q Branch specifications and featured in Goldfinger as well so there is a lot of movie magic dust sprinkled over this glorious looking steed.

Shaken Not Stirred

With just three private owners, this 1965 Aston Martin DB5 “Bond Car” is in remarkable condition and one of the owners was noted collector Lord Bamford. Its restoration was completed back in 2012, and this included refurbishment of all 13 original special-effects modifications so it looks just as it would have done for Bond himself in the movie. It is a first class example of the special-effects wizardry of two-time Oscar winner John Stears, as designed by Ken Adam, and you’ll get plenty of people begging for a ride if you’re the lucky one when the hammer goes down at the RM Sotheby’s Monterrey auction.

This 1965 Aston Martin DB5 “Bond Car” is documented with a factory build sheet, prior British registration, and restoration photos and invoices that speak to its iconic history in the world of motoring and movies. Such is the famed nature of this spectacular machine, it has been featured in an abundance of magazine articles and books and it is unquestionably one of the most iconic and recognisable Aston Martin ever made.

In typical moviemaking fashion, the producers of the Bond movie wanted two near-identical cars to fulfil various roles during filming and, thanks to RM Sotheby’s, you have the chance to own a piece of movie history. One would be required for stunt driving and chase sequences, and therefore needed to be lightweight and fast. The other, to be used for interior shots and close-ups, was to undergo several functional modifications created by Stears, the kind that would furnish James Bond with an unprecedented amount of gadgetry – it is this one which is up for grabs.

Movie Magic

The roaring success of Goldfinger was also a success for Aston Martin as a brand, which received free promotion around the world and saw DB5 sales surge to fuel an unprecedented level of production. The producers at Eon took notice of the enormous appeal and potential marketing opportunities. In preparation for Thunderball’s release, the company ordered two more DB5 saloons, receiving chassis nos. DB5/2008/R (the featured example) and DB5/2017/R. The two cars were shipped to the United States for media duties for Thunderball. One was dispatched to the East Coast, and the other to the West.

Aston Martin are already one of the world’s most luxurious motor vehicles but it’s a whole new level of mystique attached to this majestic 1965 Aston Martin DB5 “Bond Car” coming up for auction in August at RM Sotheby’s Monterrey auction. Needless to say, this one definitely won’t come cheap but if you’ve got the budget to afford it, you’ll become the owner of one of the world’s most famous cars.