Sean Connery’s Aston Martin DB5 sold at US auction - how much did it sell for, why was it sold?

A UK buyer’s hopes of bringing it home were dashed after narrowly missing out on the bid.
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Sir Sean Connery’s iconic Aston Martin DB5 has been auctioned off for nearly £2 million in California, narrowly missing a buyer from the UK.

According to The Independent, the Edinburgh-born actor’s family sold the 1964 classic car to collect money for a charity fund that was set up in his honour after he passed away in October 2020 at the age of 90.

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The James Bond actor purchased the car from a specialist after an extensive search and had it repainted in the traditional Bond colour of snow shadow grey.

Sean Connery Goldfinger - 1964 Director: Guy Hamilton Danjaq/EON/UA BRITAIN Scene Still James Bond Action/Adventure. Photo by Photo by Danjaq/Eon/Ua/Kobal/ShutterstockSean Connery Goldfinger - 1964 Director: Guy Hamilton Danjaq/EON/UA BRITAIN Scene Still James Bond Action/Adventure. Photo by Photo by Danjaq/Eon/Ua/Kobal/Shutterstock
Sean Connery Goldfinger - 1964 Director: Guy Hamilton Danjaq/EON/UA BRITAIN Scene Still James Bond Action/Adventure. Photo by Photo by Danjaq/Eon/Ua/Kobal/Shutterstock

He also had the wing mirrors removed because he thought it made the car appear "cleaner."

In the 1964 film Goldfinger, Sir Sean Connery’s 007 had a DB5 equipped with a variety of devices, including a Browning.

Each front wheel arch is armed with a 30 calibre machine gun, while the wheel hubs are equipped with tyre slashers.

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Aston Martin‘s sales increased as a result of the film’s box office success, and the car became a mainstay of the franchise.

What was the winning bid?

The car was sold for 2.2 million US dollars (£1.9 million).

The auction of DB5, which was synonymous with the Bond franchise, was described as a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" as it is Sir Sean’s privately-owned car of that model.

Broad Arrow auctioneers earlier projected it would sell between 1.4 million and 1.8 million US dollars (£1.1 million to £1.4 million at the time).

Narrowly missing out on the motor was co-founder of Showpiece, Dan Carter.

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He said that he wanted to bring the car back to the UK but was unwilling to raise his first price of 2.1 million US dollars (£1.8 million). Showpiece is a platform that allows users to buy shares in collectible goods.

Dan Carter said: “Sadly, we missed out on a chance to bring Sir Sean Connery’s personal Aston Martin DB5 back to Britain.

“Yet if a new chance comes to buy this unique vehicle we’ll never say never again.”

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