Now pay attention, 007. It has been called the ‘Most Famous Car in the World’, and has become so strongly associated in the public mind with the James Bond film series that the car has retained a presence even in the Daniel Craig movies, much to the delight of fans.

In fact, it is no exaggeration to say that the original James Bond Aston Martin DB5 embodies the very word ‘iconic’.

In surveys, it is the Bond vehicle that man film aficionados of a certain generation most associate with the word ‘cool’.

And now a gadget-laiden Aston Martin DB5, complete with revolving number plates, tyre slashers and retractable machine-guns – simply perfect for those unpredictable occasions that tend to ambush any secret agent on a highly dangerous mission for MI6 – has sold at auction in the USA for a record amount.

This particular version of the vehicle, which was a promotional model built specially for the EON producers for global marketing purposes, was based on the DB5 driven by Sean Connery in the third smash-hit 007 movie, Goldfinger (1964).

It sold last Thursday (15th August) for a golden price: the sum of $6.39 million (£5.26m) was paid for the vehicle at the auction, which was held in Monetery, California. The Aston in question, which is in very good shape for its age, was never actually driven in the film during shooting; but, ironically, this added to its auction value, as the vehicle’s engine and gadgets are in much better condition than the model driven by Connery for the car sequences shot in Switzerland and at Pinewood Studios, England. That particular model had previously set a new record for a Bond car sale when it sold at auction for £2.9min London nine years ago.

The promotional model sold last Thursday, with chassis number DB5/2008/R, was described by the auction house as ‘a highly desirable acquisition for the serious marque collector… or secret agent’. At the auction itself, everything was over in about four-and-a-half minutes, and involved six parties competing with each other for this unique and famous vehicle. It sold to an unnamed bidder in the room.

Did You Know?

EON Productions modified two more Aston Martins and used them to tour the world on 007 publicity events, including the 1964 World’s Fair. EON also shipped them to the USA to help promote the next James Bond movie, Thunderball (1965), which also featured an Aston Martin.

Aston Martin DB5 in Q's workshop

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