RM Auctions is announcing that the famous 1964 Aston Martin DB5 James Bond movie car will be auctioned at the Battersea Evolution in London on October 27th. Wealthy passionates are expected to bid over 5 million USD for this one of two exemplars 1964 Aston Martin DB5 which holds the UK registration number FMP 7B.
The 1964 Aston Martin DB5 James Bond car starred in the popular Goldfinder and Thunderball movies with Sean Connery behind the wheel, and the winning bidder should know that the vehicle still has the original gadgets fitted by special effects expert John Stears. These include machine guns, bullet-proof
shield, revolving number plates, tracking device, removable roof
panel, oil slick sprayer, nail spreader and smoke screen.
For more details regarding the 1964 Aston Martin DB5 James Bond car auction check out the official press release below.
RM Auctions press release :
PAY ATTENTION, BOND FANS! RM Auctions announces the consignment of
one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th
century – the 1964 Aston Martin DB5 James Bond movie car – to its annual
‘Automobiles of London’ event at the Battersea Evolution in London on
27th October, where it is available for sale for the first
time in history and expected to achieve in excess of $5 million. The car
is being offered by RM in association with Sotheby’s, with whom RM has
worked in the past.
Well-known around the world by its original 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 behind
the wheel in the enormously popular Goldfinger and Thunberball movies. With its ‘rather interesting modifications’ originally
conceived by Oscar-award-winning special effects expert, John Stears,
this authentic 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 center
arm-rest.
“Like ‘Q’ , we never joke about our work, which is why RM is
consistently entrusted with the sale of the world’s most significant
collector cars like the REAL 007 Aston Martin DB5 movie car,” said Max
Girardo, Managing Director, RM Europe. “RM is known for
world-record-setting results and we expect nothing less for 007’s iconic
DB5.”
The DB5 was originally loaned to EON Productions for the filming of
the two Bond movies, and returned to the Aston Martin Lagonda factory
after its subsequent 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 sale of FMP 7B to further
the charitable work of The Jerry Lee Foundation, a multi-national
initiative dedicated to solving social problems associated with poverty,
with an emphasis on crime prevention. The Foundation supports programs
at the University of Pennsylvania and Cambridge University (UK), as well
as in Australia, Norway and Washington, DC. It is also responsible for
the establishment of the Stockholm Prize in Criminology, for which Mr.
Lee received a Swedish knighthood in 2008. (http://jerryleefoundation.com/)
“The James Bond car has brought me much enjoyment for some 40 years,”
said Jerry Lee. “Even as I sell it and use the proceeds to fund the
Jerry Lee Foundation, the car will continue to give me great pleasure as
it furthers the mission of the Foundation to do good around the world.”
Today, FMP 7B is presented in highly original condition and recently
underwent a careful re-commissioning program by RM Auto Restoration,
returning it to running condition after the many years of static display
in Mr. Lee’s home.
In advance of its auction debut at RM’s Automobiles of London
sale on 27 October, the car is set to make its first 21st
century public appearance at the Bond-themed Midsummer
Classic/Thunderball concours and black-tie reception scheduled for 26
June at the Stoke Park Club located outside of London. Bond fans will
recognize the Stoke Park Club as the site of the first confrontation
between 007 and Mr. Goldfinger. For event and ticket information, visit:
http://www.midsummerclassic.co.uk/
