• First delivered in Black Pearl over a Red interior; now finished in “007”-specification Silver Birch over black
• Retains its matching-numbers chassis and engine
• Accompanied by a British Motor Industry Heritage Certificate

Please note this lot has entered the EU on a temporary import bond, which must be cancelled either by exporting the lot outside of the EU on an approved Bill of Lading with supporting customs documentation or by paying the applicable VAT and import duties to have the lot remain in the EU.

Veuillez noter que ce lot a été introduit dans l'UE avec un cautionnement d'importation temporaire, qui devra être soldé par réexportation hors de l'UE avec un connaissement (bon de chargement) accompagné de ses documents douaniers, ou par paiement de la TVA et des droits de douane applicables s'il doit demeurer dans l'UE.

Ian Fleming may have chosen an AC Aceca as his personal conveyance, but it was to Feltham that the author turned when it came time to select a car for his fictional alter ego. Sporting, aspirational, and above all cool, the Aston Martin “DB III” that James Bond drove in the literary version of Goldfinger represented the final iteration of the DB2 platform and was the height of sophistication when the novel was released in 1959. When the book was eventually made into a feature film in 1964, the obvious candidate for 007’s gadget-laden company car was the more up-to-date DB5.

Spiritual successor to the DB of the novel and brand-new replacement for the outgoing DB4, the 4.0-litre, 145-mph grand tourer represented the best of British engineering. From the moment its Silver Birch-clad Superleggera coachwork first appeared on the silver screen, the DB5 went from salesroom star to bona fide icon—a legacy of desirability that continues to this day.

The public’s love affair with James Bond and his DB5 has continued unabated, fuelled by its most recent appearance in No Time to Die. For most, their dream specification includes instantly recognisable and effortlessly chic Silver Birch paintwork—the very shade sported by the example offered here. Though chassis DB5/1849/L is arguably more desirable still, having first been specified in the much rarer colour of Black Pearl over a striking Red interior, with the added bonus of factory Normalair air conditioning and a five-speed ZF manual transmission. It was further specified with a Bosch Koln TR radio, chrome wire wheels, Selectaride shock absorbers, and three-ear hub caps.

Built in left-hand drive, this example was destined for North America. According to an accompanying British Motor Industry Heritage Certificate, the car was completed on 16 November 1964 and despatched to the United States a week later, before to being delivered to its first owner via R. & J. Dick Company Inc. Documents show that the car was later registered in both New Jersey and Massachusetts, prior to being exported in 2007. At an unknown point the car was refinished in Silver Birch over a black interior—the specification in which it presents today—while it retains its matching-numbers chassis and engine. More recently, the car has resided in the private collection of the consigning seller, where it has remained on static display. As a result, it is recommended that a mechanical inspection and service are carried out prior to returning this car to the road.

This smartly finished Aston Martin DB5 offers an opportunity to acquire a true icon of 1960s Britain, configured in arguably the most desirable colour combination.To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/pa23.