James Bond Aston Martin DB5 Sells for Record $6.4 Million at RM Sotheby’s Monterey

DB5 SHOOTING BRAKE ALSO SETS NEW AUCTION RECORD AT $1.765 MILLION

• 1965 Aston Martin DB5 “Bond Car” achieves record-breaking $6,385,000 during single-marque Evening with Aston Martin at RM Sotheby’s Monterey auction, exceeding previous record by nearly $2 million
• Aston Martin DB5 Shooting Brake also achieves new auction record at a final $1.765 million
• RM Sotheby’s Monterey sale continues Friday, 16 August at 5:30pm PST, headlined by McLaren F1 “LM-Spec”

MONTEREY, CA – August 16, 2019 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) –  Tonight in Monterey, California, RM Sotheby’s hosted An Evening with Aston Martin in partnership with Aston Martin Works and Aston Martin Lagonda, selling the highly anticipated 1965 James Bond Aston Martin DB5 for a final $6,385,000 to become the most valuable DB5 ever sold at auction (est. $4m/6m).

Affectionately known as “the most famous car in the world,” the DB5, chassis no. DB5/2008/R, is one of just three surviving James Bond 007 DB5’s as seen in Goldfinger and as used in the promotion of Thunderball. The car was built specifically for Eon Productions and outfitted with legendary MI6 Q Branch specified gadgetry from new. Fully restored by Roos Engineering in Switzerland, the car was presented in Monterey with all gadgetry fully functioning as Q intended. After drawing significant attention in the lead up to the Monterey auction and during the pre-sale exhibition, the DB5 was the subject of a four-and-a-half-minute bidding competition between six interested parties in the room and on the phone, eventually selling to an enthusiastic bidder present in the auction room.

Barney Ruprecht, Car Specialist, RM Sotheby’s comments: “It was an honor to offer the iconic James Bond 007 Aston Martin DB5 alongside our partners at Aston Martin Works and Aston Martin Lagonda. We are beyond thrilled with tonight’s fantastic result and proud to have set a new record for the most valuable DB5 sold at auction. Beyond this new auction record, the enormous amount of interest in the car and excitement surrounding it ahead of the auction solidifies its status as the “most famous car in the world,” along with the hobby’s great respect for the Aston Martin brand.”

Paul Spires, President of Aston Martin Works, said following the sale: “The interest among collectors and enthusiasts worldwide underscores the enduring global appeal of this great British sports car company.

“Thanks to RM Sotheby’s this event has been, without question, a highlight of the Aston Martin heritage year in 2019 and I, for one, look forward to seeing more such sales in the future.”

Additional highlights from the Thursday evening sale session include the 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Shooting Brake, which garnered extensive pre-sale interest to sell for a final $1,765,000, exceeding estimate (est. $1m/1.4m). One of just 12 factory DB5 Shooting Brakes built and having had a mere three private owners from new, the DB5 is now the most valuable Shooting Brake bodied-car of any marque sold at auction.

RM Sotheby’s Monterey auction continues Friday, 16 August at the Monterey Conference Center, headlined by the presentation of a 1994 McLaren F1 “LM-Specification”, the world’s most revered modern supercar. For further information on the Monterey auction, please visit rmsothebys.com.

About RM Sotheby’s

RM Sotheby’s is the world’s largest auction house for investment-quality automobiles. With 40 years’ experience in the collector car industry, RM’s vertically integrated range of services, from private treaty sales and auctions (including both RM Sotheby’s and RM Auctions events) to estate planning and financial services, coupled with an expert team of car specialists and an international footprint, provide an unsurpassed level of service to the global collector car market. RM Sotheby’s is currently responsible for six of the top ten most valuable motor cars ever sold at auction. In February 2015, RM formed a strategic partnership with Sotheby’s, uniting the two companies for the full calendar of future automobile auctions. For further information, visit rmsothebys.com.

Source: RM Sotheby’s

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