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Aston Martin Built for James Bond Heading to Auction


Handout photo shows a raised rear bullet-proof screen of an original Aston Martin DB5 James Bond car.
Handout photo shows a raised rear bullet-proof screen of an original Aston Martin DB5 James Bond car.

A 1965 Aston Martin DB5 outfitted with special gadgets for James Bond, such as tire slashers, machine guns and a bulletproof shield, will go up for auction in August, the auction house announced on Wednesday.

The vehicle painted gray is expected to fetch between $4 million and $6 million, according to a statement from RM Sotheby's.

The car was never seen in Bond films, but matches the one that "007" - the code number by which Bond was often known - drove in the movies "Goldfinger," and "Thunderball."

Handout photo of the detail of a gun turret shown in the front fender of an original Aston Martin DB5 James Bond car.
Handout photo of the detail of a gun turret shown in the front fender of an original Aston Martin DB5 James Bond car.

The vehicle was commissioned by filmmaker Eon Productions and used at promotional events for "Thunderball" in the United States, the auction house said.

It includes 13 modifications created for Bond, including a Browning .30 caliber machine gun in each fender, tire slashers mounted on its wheel hubs and a bulletproof rear screen that can be raised and lowered.

RM Sotheby's said the Bond modifications had been "properly refurbished to function as originally built," and has had three private owners over 50 years.

The auction will take place on Aug. 15 in Monterey, California.

Handout photo of an original Aston Martin DB5 James Bond car.
Handout photo of an original Aston Martin DB5 James Bond car.

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    Reuters

    Reuters is a news agency founded in 1851 and owned by the Thomson Reuters Corporation based in Toronto, Canada. One of the world's largest wire services, it provides financial news as well as international coverage in over 16 languages to more than 1000 newspapers and 750 broadcasters around the globe.

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