ASTON MARTIN
See also : Cars Cars II British cars Cars 1934-36 Post war cars Cars 1956-57 Cars 1958-59 Cars 1960s Cars 1960-61 Cars 1962-64 Cars 1965-67 Hypercars Movies
Chronology : 1935 1956
Chronology : 1935 1956
1935 Aston Martin Ulster LM
2015 SOLD for £ 2.9M including premium by Bonhams
1955 Aston Martin by David Brown
2012 SOLD 3.7 M$ including premium
In 1947, the British automobile industry restructures. Aston Martin and Lagonda are bought by David Brown, a company created in 1860 specializing in tractors.
It is then directed by the founder's grandson, also named David Brown, who will leave his initials to the new series of Aston Martin cars, numbered from DB1 to DB6.
Introduced in 1953, the sports racing DB3S model is certainly the most spectacular. 31 cars were built: 11 were used directly to represent Aston Martin in competitions, and 20 were sold to private owners. The results were honorable though the main goal, winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans, was not reached.
Made in 1955, one of the last DB3S is estimated $ 3.5 million, for sale by RM Auctions in Monterey on August 18. It is illustrated in the top section of the page shared by Classic Driver.
The DB3S is a superb model which closely resembles its Italian rivals. By analyzing the dates, we note that it indeed anticipated the star Ferrari of the 1950s, the fabulous 250TR (Testa Rossa) whose production began in 1956.
POST SALE COMMENT
The result, $ 3.35 million excluding fees, 3.7 million including premium, is consistent with the lower estimate.
It is then directed by the founder's grandson, also named David Brown, who will leave his initials to the new series of Aston Martin cars, numbered from DB1 to DB6.
Introduced in 1953, the sports racing DB3S model is certainly the most spectacular. 31 cars were built: 11 were used directly to represent Aston Martin in competitions, and 20 were sold to private owners. The results were honorable though the main goal, winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans, was not reached.
Made in 1955, one of the last DB3S is estimated $ 3.5 million, for sale by RM Auctions in Monterey on August 18. It is illustrated in the top section of the page shared by Classic Driver.
The DB3S is a superb model which closely resembles its Italian rivals. By analyzing the dates, we note that it indeed anticipated the star Ferrari of the 1950s, the fabulous 250TR (Testa Rossa) whose production began in 1956.
POST SALE COMMENT
The result, $ 3.35 million excluding fees, 3.7 million including premium, is consistent with the lower estimate.
1956 Aston Martin targets Le Mans
2017 SOLD for $ 22.6M including premium
When David Brown buys Aston Martin and Lagonda in 1947, his ambition is to lead Aston Martin to win at the 24 hours of Le Mans by relying on the innovative achievements of both brands. Twelve years of stubborn efforts will follow.
The valiant DB3S manages to sneak into the podiums of the endurance competitions but is not powerful enough against Ferrari, Jaguar and Maserati. The changes in Le Mans regulation for limiting the volume in the prototype category are favorable to Ferrari and Aston Martin. The two brands launch ambitious developments : the 250 TR in 1957 for Ferrari and the DBR1 (David Brown Racing 1) in 1956 for Aston Martin.
The first DBR1 car (DBR1/1) is assembled in 1956 with a 3-liter engine sometimes replaced until 1958 by a 2.5-liter engine to comply with the new regulations of some competitions. In 1957 a second DBR1 is made, along with two DBR2 equipped with a larger engine that will be upgraded in two phases to 4.2 liters. Three additional DBR1 will follow.
This model is perfect for the 1000 Km Nürburgring won in 1957 by DBR1/2, in 1958 by DBR1/3, and in 1959 by DBR1/1 with Stirling Moss and Jack Fairman. Taking advantage of Ferrari's misfortune, DBR1/2 realizes at last its boss's dream by winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1959. After a final DBR1/2 victory at Goodwood, Aston Martin stops the competition probably due to financial difficulties and the cars continue their careers with private teams.
Painstakingly maintained as close as possible to its 1959 configuration with the cooperation of the former chief designer of the DBR project, DBR1/1 will be sold by RM Sotheby's in Monterey on August 18, lot 148. It is equipped with a replica engine of the correct configuration and accompanied by its 3-liter engine of 1959. The press release of June 23 expects a price in excess of $ 20M.
Wikipedia and several sources on the web since 2013 indicate that DBR2/1 was sold for £ 9.2M in a private sale.
Please watch in the RM tweet the very short video shared by the auction house.
Wikimedia shares an image of DBR1/1 driven by Carroll Shelby at Sebring in 1958. Attribution : By C5813 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
The valiant DB3S manages to sneak into the podiums of the endurance competitions but is not powerful enough against Ferrari, Jaguar and Maserati. The changes in Le Mans regulation for limiting the volume in the prototype category are favorable to Ferrari and Aston Martin. The two brands launch ambitious developments : the 250 TR in 1957 for Ferrari and the DBR1 (David Brown Racing 1) in 1956 for Aston Martin.
The first DBR1 car (DBR1/1) is assembled in 1956 with a 3-liter engine sometimes replaced until 1958 by a 2.5-liter engine to comply with the new regulations of some competitions. In 1957 a second DBR1 is made, along with two DBR2 equipped with a larger engine that will be upgraded in two phases to 4.2 liters. Three additional DBR1 will follow.
This model is perfect for the 1000 Km Nürburgring won in 1957 by DBR1/2, in 1958 by DBR1/3, and in 1959 by DBR1/1 with Stirling Moss and Jack Fairman. Taking advantage of Ferrari's misfortune, DBR1/2 realizes at last its boss's dream by winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1959. After a final DBR1/2 victory at Goodwood, Aston Martin stops the competition probably due to financial difficulties and the cars continue their careers with private teams.
Painstakingly maintained as close as possible to its 1959 configuration with the cooperation of the former chief designer of the DBR project, DBR1/1 will be sold by RM Sotheby's in Monterey on August 18, lot 148. It is equipped with a replica engine of the correct configuration and accompanied by its 3-liter engine of 1959. The press release of June 23 expects a price in excess of $ 20M.
Wikipedia and several sources on the web since 2013 indicate that DBR2/1 was sold for £ 9.2M in a private sale.
Please watch in the RM tweet the very short video shared by the auction house.
Wikimedia shares an image of DBR1/1 driven by Carroll Shelby at Sebring in 1958. Attribution : By C5813 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
1959 Everything goes well for Aston Martin
2017 SOLD for $ 6.8M including premium
Everything goes very well for Aston Martin. Unveiled in September 1958 the new grand tourer DB4 will be a success. By winning for the first time at Le Mans in 1959 with the DBR1 the British brand also takes the FIA title of world sports-car champion.
The team manager John Wyer and the chief engineer Ted Cutting are brainstorming. They will cut five inches in a DB4 to produce a cheap and cheerful GT. This shortening to gain some weight is concomitant with the shortening by Ferrari of the chassis 250 GT for improving the handling. The project is accepted by Aston Martin under the acronym DP-199 (DP stands for Design Project).
The prototype DP199/1 is tested at Le Mans in April 1959. Stirling Moss, always keen to drive a new machine, convinces Aston Martin to engage the car on May 2 at Silverstone in a 12-lap race in the GT class. Moss wins the pole position, the race and the lap record without even pushing the engine beyond 5,500 rpm.
The demonstration is impeccable. The prototype remains unique but its technical solutions pave the way for the entire Aston Martin GT line starting with the DB4 GT and the highly efficient DB4 GT Zagato.
In a first phase DP199/1 was fitted alternately with a 3.7-liter engine and a 3-liter engine to meet the regulations of various competitions. It has been restored in a configuration prior to 1961 when it left the factory team to be sold to a private owner. It retains its 3.7-liter engine of that period and has not suffered clumsy enhancements. It never had an accident and its body is remarkably original.
Cutting had met Wyer's expectation. Despite an intensive use DP199/1 is still today light, lively and easy to drive fast, inspiring confidence. It is estimated $ 6M for sale by RM Sotheby's in Monterey on August 18, lot 147.
The team manager John Wyer and the chief engineer Ted Cutting are brainstorming. They will cut five inches in a DB4 to produce a cheap and cheerful GT. This shortening to gain some weight is concomitant with the shortening by Ferrari of the chassis 250 GT for improving the handling. The project is accepted by Aston Martin under the acronym DP-199 (DP stands for Design Project).
The prototype DP199/1 is tested at Le Mans in April 1959. Stirling Moss, always keen to drive a new machine, convinces Aston Martin to engage the car on May 2 at Silverstone in a 12-lap race in the GT class. Moss wins the pole position, the race and the lap record without even pushing the engine beyond 5,500 rpm.
The demonstration is impeccable. The prototype remains unique but its technical solutions pave the way for the entire Aston Martin GT line starting with the DB4 GT and the highly efficient DB4 GT Zagato.
In a first phase DP199/1 was fitted alternately with a 3.7-liter engine and a 3-liter engine to meet the regulations of various competitions. It has been restored in a configuration prior to 1961 when it left the factory team to be sold to a private owner. It retains its 3.7-liter engine of that period and has not suffered clumsy enhancements. It never had an accident and its body is remarkably original.
Cutting had met Wyer's expectation. Despite an intensive use DP199/1 is still today light, lively and easy to drive fast, inspiring confidence. It is estimated $ 6M for sale by RM Sotheby's in Monterey on August 18, lot 147.
1960 Italian Experiences for Aston Martin
2013 SOLD 3.25 M£ including premium
Italy dominates the market of Gran Turismo cars, and brands from the rest of Europe subcontract to the best Italian specialists. Aston Martin is one of the most ambitious.
The DB4 already has a strong Italian inspiration, but it is not enough to conquer the market. In 1960, the British brand is looking for new alliances, and has some DB4 GT coachworked by Zagato and Bertone.
The Zagato will have some success and 20 cars will be made. However the first DB4 GT Bertone coupe will not have a follow. It is believed that the failure of the Bertone project is not due to a competition from Ferrari but to the success of a new British chassis, the E-type by Jaguar.
The unique DB4 GT Bertone passed into private hands, but has been restored and maintained regularly by the workshops of Aston Martin. It is estimated £ 2.8 million, for sale by Bonhams on May 18. Here is the link to the catalog.
This auction is taking place in the Aston Martin facilities in Newport Pagnell and only includes cars from Aston Martin and Lagonda brands.
I invite you to watch the video shared by Bonhams.
POST SALE COMMENT
Great result, £ 3.25 million including premium, for this unique car that also anticipates the transition between the DB4 and DB5 models.
The DB4 already has a strong Italian inspiration, but it is not enough to conquer the market. In 1960, the British brand is looking for new alliances, and has some DB4 GT coachworked by Zagato and Bertone.
The Zagato will have some success and 20 cars will be made. However the first DB4 GT Bertone coupe will not have a follow. It is believed that the failure of the Bertone project is not due to a competition from Ferrari but to the success of a new British chassis, the E-type by Jaguar.
The unique DB4 GT Bertone passed into private hands, but has been restored and maintained regularly by the workshops of Aston Martin. It is estimated £ 2.8 million, for sale by Bonhams on May 18. Here is the link to the catalog.
This auction is taking place in the Aston Martin facilities in Newport Pagnell and only includes cars from Aston Martin and Lagonda brands.
I invite you to watch the video shared by Bonhams.
POST SALE COMMENT
Great result, £ 3.25 million including premium, for this unique car that also anticipates the transition between the DB4 and DB5 models.
1961 Aston Martin for Competizione
2015 SOLD for $ 14.3M including premium
It seemed difficult to compete with Ferrari without using Italian coachbuilders. In 1960, Aston Martin chose Zagato to equip 25 DB4 GT chassis.
The DB4 GT Zagato is a lightweight car in which most of the elements previously in steel have been replaced by aluminum. With its rounded forms specially designed for aerodynamics, it looks like an Italian car without being close to a Ferrari.
Designed for the road with a willingness of compatibility with the competition, it is stripped of all unnecessary equipment and can be directly compared with the 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione developed by Ferrari in 1959.
The racing success did not meet the expectations of Aston Martin and the release of the Ferrari 250 GTO diverted from the English brand the customers of high-end Italian cars. The production of the DB4 GT Zagato is stopped after the 19th unit. Due to the popularity of cars from this prestigious period, the six remaining Zagato bodies are assembled from 1988 on old DB4 chassis upgraded to DB4 GT specification.
On December 10 in New York, RM Sotheby's sells the 14th Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato, completed in December 1961 to prepare for the 1962 season in which it had a significant racing history in Australia. It was restored in 2002 with the collaboration of the Carrozzeria Zagato.
This car is estimated $ 15M, lot 215. I invite you to watch the short video shared by the auction house.
The DB4 GT Zagato is a lightweight car in which most of the elements previously in steel have been replaced by aluminum. With its rounded forms specially designed for aerodynamics, it looks like an Italian car without being close to a Ferrari.
Designed for the road with a willingness of compatibility with the competition, it is stripped of all unnecessary equipment and can be directly compared with the 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione developed by Ferrari in 1959.
The racing success did not meet the expectations of Aston Martin and the release of the Ferrari 250 GTO diverted from the English brand the customers of high-end Italian cars. The production of the DB4 GT Zagato is stopped after the 19th unit. Due to the popularity of cars from this prestigious period, the six remaining Zagato bodies are assembled from 1988 on old DB4 chassis upgraded to DB4 GT specification.
On December 10 in New York, RM Sotheby's sells the 14th Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato, completed in December 1961 to prepare for the 1962 season in which it had a significant racing history in Australia. It was restored in 2002 with the collaboration of the Carrozzeria Zagato.
This car is estimated $ 15M, lot 215. I invite you to watch the short video shared by the auction house.
1961 The British Berlinetta
2018 SOLD for £ 10M including premium
After the great successes of 1959 Aston Martin terminates its works teams in Grand Touring and then in Formula 1. The development efforts concerning the DB4GT include however competition versions. The domination of Ferrari calls for weight reduction for which Aston Martin cooperates with Carrozzeria Zagato. The DB4GT Zagato coupe was unveiled at the 1960 London Motor Show.
John Ogier, owner of the Essex Racing Stable private team, desired to maintain a full British participation in international competitions. He bought two DB4GT Lightweight in 1960 and two DB4GT Zagato in 1961 and obtained for his team the support of the factory. At the same time the American sportsman Briggs Cunningham was trying a comparable approach to Jaguar.
In 1962 Aston Martin feels that it will not be enough for winning. Under the project reference MP209, Zagato goes even further in lightening including major changes in body shape.
One of the two 1961 Zagato of Team Essex is heavily damaged in May 1962 at Spa. Major repairs are needed and Aston Martin turns this car into the DP209 configuration. It is again crashed in August 1962 in Gooodwood, this time by the future world champion Jim Clark.
In the high end the victories generate sales. The Aston Martin berlinetta has a lot of issues in competition, including with handling and with tire wear. The collaboration between Aston Martin and Zagato is ended after the 19th car while 25 had been originally planned. Only three cars had received the DP209 configuration. They can be considered as prototypes for the P214 chassis released by Aston Martin in 1963.
The ex-Ogier Zagato DP209 was restored to its 1962 configuration after a road accident in the 1990s. It will be sold as lot 335 by Bonhams at Goodwood on July 13. Please watch the videoprepared by the auction house. The rear view is shared by Hipwell on Wikimedia.
The 14th Zagato, which was not a DP209, was sold for $ 14.3M including premium by RM Sotheby's on December 10, 2015.
John Ogier, owner of the Essex Racing Stable private team, desired to maintain a full British participation in international competitions. He bought two DB4GT Lightweight in 1960 and two DB4GT Zagato in 1961 and obtained for his team the support of the factory. At the same time the American sportsman Briggs Cunningham was trying a comparable approach to Jaguar.
In 1962 Aston Martin feels that it will not be enough for winning. Under the project reference MP209, Zagato goes even further in lightening including major changes in body shape.
One of the two 1961 Zagato of Team Essex is heavily damaged in May 1962 at Spa. Major repairs are needed and Aston Martin turns this car into the DP209 configuration. It is again crashed in August 1962 in Gooodwood, this time by the future world champion Jim Clark.
In the high end the victories generate sales. The Aston Martin berlinetta has a lot of issues in competition, including with handling and with tire wear. The collaboration between Aston Martin and Zagato is ended after the 19th car while 25 had been originally planned. Only three cars had received the DP209 configuration. They can be considered as prototypes for the P214 chassis released by Aston Martin in 1963.
The ex-Ogier Zagato DP209 was restored to its 1962 configuration after a road accident in the 1990s. It will be sold as lot 335 by Bonhams at Goodwood on July 13. Please watch the videoprepared by the auction house. The rear view is shared by Hipwell on Wikimedia.
The 14th Zagato, which was not a DP209, was sold for $ 14.3M including premium by RM Sotheby's on December 10, 2015.
1963 Ultimate Laps for Aston Martin
2018 SOLD for $ 21.5M including premium
Aston Martin was brilliant in competition in 1959 but failed in 1960. The owner, David Brown, does not take the risk of losing money. He terminates his competition team while maintaining his development abilities around manager John Wyer, chief engineer Ted Cutting and engine mechanic Tadek Marek.
Competition rules change frequently. The 1962 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans is favorable to prototypes. Aston Martin is interested. The Design Project 212 is an evolution of the DB4 GT with a unique car incorporating a 4-liter 6-cylinder in-line engine and a lightened bodywork validated in the wind tunnel.
For 1963 Aston Martin prepares the DP214 for the GT class with two cars. This project, similar to the DP212, incorporates bodywork modifications to mitigate the risk of rear lifting.
John Wyer appreciates the motivation and skill of his teams. Under the reference DP215 he requests an additional car for the same competition, with other characteristics for the prototype class. Engineers have two months left to accomplish this feat, with an extremely limited budget.
DP215 has an engine of the same model as DP212 and the five-speed gearbox from the DBR1. The chassis is new, to receive a possible V8 engine. The engine position is lowered.
At the Le Mans practice, the DP215 driven by Phil Hill and Lucien Bianchi is the first car timed at more than 300 Km/h at Mulsanne. Both DP214 achieve a similar performance. None of the three cars finish the 24 hours : at the beginning of the third hour, the transmission of the DP215 is broken.
During its next race at Reims it becomes obvious that the gearbox is undersized for the engine power. After a demonstration run in the same year at Brands Hatch, DP215 abandons the competition. In November 1963 the Aston Martin Racing Department is closed. John Wyer had already left the company.
Its current owner commissioned a gearbox copying that of the DP212 and recovered its original engine that had been installed in the only DP214 survivor. The DP215 was restarted into a working condition close to the original configuration including the spare DP214/215 bodywork built in period by Aston Martin. It is estimated $ 18M for sale by RM Sotheby's in Monterey on August 24, lot 141.
Please watch the video prepared by the auction house. The image is shared by Wikimedia with attribution By Redsimon [CC BY 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons
Competition rules change frequently. The 1962 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans is favorable to prototypes. Aston Martin is interested. The Design Project 212 is an evolution of the DB4 GT with a unique car incorporating a 4-liter 6-cylinder in-line engine and a lightened bodywork validated in the wind tunnel.
For 1963 Aston Martin prepares the DP214 for the GT class with two cars. This project, similar to the DP212, incorporates bodywork modifications to mitigate the risk of rear lifting.
John Wyer appreciates the motivation and skill of his teams. Under the reference DP215 he requests an additional car for the same competition, with other characteristics for the prototype class. Engineers have two months left to accomplish this feat, with an extremely limited budget.
DP215 has an engine of the same model as DP212 and the five-speed gearbox from the DBR1. The chassis is new, to receive a possible V8 engine. The engine position is lowered.
At the Le Mans practice, the DP215 driven by Phil Hill and Lucien Bianchi is the first car timed at more than 300 Km/h at Mulsanne. Both DP214 achieve a similar performance. None of the three cars finish the 24 hours : at the beginning of the third hour, the transmission of the DP215 is broken.
During its next race at Reims it becomes obvious that the gearbox is undersized for the engine power. After a demonstration run in the same year at Brands Hatch, DP215 abandons the competition. In November 1963 the Aston Martin Racing Department is closed. John Wyer had already left the company.
Its current owner commissioned a gearbox copying that of the DP212 and recovered its original engine that had been installed in the only DP214 survivor. The DP215 was restarted into a working condition close to the original configuration including the spare DP214/215 bodywork built in period by Aston Martin. It is estimated $ 18M for sale by RM Sotheby's in Monterey on August 24, lot 141.
Please watch the video prepared by the auction house. The image is shared by Wikimedia with attribution By Redsimon [CC BY 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons
1964 Aston Martin for 007
2010 SOLD 2.9 M£ including premium
James Bond required an exceptional car. It was supplied by Aston Martin in 1964 for the filming of Goldfinger. It will be sold on October 27 by RM Auctions in London. The sale is organized in association with Sotheby's.
It is derived from a commercial model, specifically a DB5, on which Aston Martin has added all the accessories necessary for a perfect spy: rotating plate, ejector seat, retractable roof and many other gadgets powered by a board located in the armrest.The car has been re-used in Thunderball, and then purchased by a collector who preserved it in its original condition. It expects 3.5 million pounds.
Can we say that it is the most famous car in the world? Certainly, at least at the time of the movies. Under license from Aston Martin, Corgi Toys has sold millions of model toys.
POST SALE COMMENT
The result is a little disappointing, especially considering the intense media communication about this car: £ 2.9 million including premium.
It is derived from a commercial model, specifically a DB5, on which Aston Martin has added all the accessories necessary for a perfect spy: rotating plate, ejector seat, retractable roof and many other gadgets powered by a board located in the armrest.The car has been re-used in Thunderball, and then purchased by a collector who preserved it in its original condition. It expects 3.5 million pounds.
Can we say that it is the most famous car in the world? Certainly, at least at the time of the movies. Under license from Aston Martin, Corgi Toys has sold millions of model toys.
POST SALE COMMENT
The result is a little disappointing, especially considering the intense media communication about this car: £ 2.9 million including premium.
1965 The Most Clever Car in the World
2019 SOLD for $ 6.4M including premium
The third James Bond film will be based on Goldfinger, a novel published by Ian Fleming in 1959. In the book, 007 was driving an Aston Martin DB3. A delegation from the production team decides that the most recent model, the DB5 coupe, will suit the new movie. With its bodywork designed by Touring, this English car has an Italian elegance.
In the previous film, From Russia with Love, the special effects were concentrated in a faked briefcase. The DB5 will accommodate gadgets, for example the emission of a smoke screen. Everyone adds his idea. The rotating license plate operated from the dashboard comes from a participant's dream of leaving a parking lot without paying.
The team in charge of the scenario retains thirteen gadgets for the car. The nail ejector is abandoned to avoid giving bad ideas to car users. Two DB5 are purchased. One of them incorporates all the gadgets. The other, intended for scenes of fast driving, will be equipped later.
Released in 1964, Goldfinger is an immediate success. Both cars are collectively referred to as The Most Famous Car in the World. The sales of the DB5 exceed all expectations and its model by Corgi Toys is a huge success. The first Bond car mysteriously disappeared in 1997. The other was sold for £ 2.9M including premium by RM on October 27, 2010.
Thunderball, released in 1965, is featuring the same cars. To promote the film by touring the United States, the production team buys two additional cars. This time the gadgets are built by Aston Martin, the repetition of the demonstrations requiring a robustness that was not necessary for the shooting. They are identified as DB5 James Bond Works Replica in the Aston Martin archives.
One of them is in a Dutch museum. The other was sold for $ 2.1M including premium by RM on January 20, 2006. After a meticulous restoration including the full operation of the thirteen gadgets, it is estimated $ 4M for sale by RM Sotheby's in Monterey on August 15, lot 111. Please watch the video shared by the auction house, with a journalist named Florence in the role of 007.
In the previous film, From Russia with Love, the special effects were concentrated in a faked briefcase. The DB5 will accommodate gadgets, for example the emission of a smoke screen. Everyone adds his idea. The rotating license plate operated from the dashboard comes from a participant's dream of leaving a parking lot without paying.
The team in charge of the scenario retains thirteen gadgets for the car. The nail ejector is abandoned to avoid giving bad ideas to car users. Two DB5 are purchased. One of them incorporates all the gadgets. The other, intended for scenes of fast driving, will be equipped later.
Released in 1964, Goldfinger is an immediate success. Both cars are collectively referred to as The Most Famous Car in the World. The sales of the DB5 exceed all expectations and its model by Corgi Toys is a huge success. The first Bond car mysteriously disappeared in 1997. The other was sold for £ 2.9M including premium by RM on October 27, 2010.
Thunderball, released in 1965, is featuring the same cars. To promote the film by touring the United States, the production team buys two additional cars. This time the gadgets are built by Aston Martin, the repetition of the demonstrations requiring a robustness that was not necessary for the shooting. They are identified as DB5 James Bond Works Replica in the Aston Martin archives.
One of them is in a Dutch museum. The other was sold for $ 2.1M including premium by RM on January 20, 2006. After a meticulous restoration including the full operation of the thirteen gadgets, it is estimated $ 4M for sale by RM Sotheby's in Monterey on August 15, lot 111. Please watch the video shared by the auction house, with a journalist named Florence in the role of 007.
2014 An Aston Martin Supercar for 007
2016 SOLD for £ 2.43M including premium
The sexiest of the spies began in 1964 in the movie Goldfinger a long love affair with the elegant Aston Martin DB5. Half a century later James Bond has not aged and Daniel Craig is his sixth incarnation.
In the latest film of the series, Spectre, the indestructible DB5 is still there but for a minor role. At the end of the story, Bond retrieves his old car friend just rebuilt after the hardship suffered in Skyfall.
At the time of the supercars, a new car is necessary for the super feats of Bond. Aston Martin specially designed the DB10 for Spectre. Unveiled in December 2014, the DB10 is a concept car that has not been tested for public road use. Only ten cars were built but it is likely that the brand will give some following to this beautiful and already iconic coupe.
The automobile acrobatics of the DB10 are astonishing, including its handling in complete circles of very small diameter. The car does not omit to jump into the river, a sequence spectacular enough to be repeated throughout the Bond filmography. Eight units were destroyed for the purpose of filming.
Christie's is managing on February 18 in London a charity sale made of souvenirs from Spectre. The DB10 number 10 of 10 will be sold to benefit Médecins Sans Frontières. It is estimated £ 1M, lot 10. 10 of 10 had been preserved as a show car and was not equipped with the gadgets used in the film: machine gun, flamethrower, ejector seat.
In the latest film of the series, Spectre, the indestructible DB5 is still there but for a minor role. At the end of the story, Bond retrieves his old car friend just rebuilt after the hardship suffered in Skyfall.
At the time of the supercars, a new car is necessary for the super feats of Bond. Aston Martin specially designed the DB10 for Spectre. Unveiled in December 2014, the DB10 is a concept car that has not been tested for public road use. Only ten cars were built but it is likely that the brand will give some following to this beautiful and already iconic coupe.
The automobile acrobatics of the DB10 are astonishing, including its handling in complete circles of very small diameter. The car does not omit to jump into the river, a sequence spectacular enough to be repeated throughout the Bond filmography. Eight units were destroyed for the purpose of filming.
Christie's is managing on February 18 in London a charity sale made of souvenirs from Spectre. The DB10 number 10 of 10 will be sold to benefit Médecins Sans Frontières. It is estimated £ 1M, lot 10. 10 of 10 had been preserved as a show car and was not equipped with the gadgets used in the film: machine gun, flamethrower, ejector seat.
