THE ULTIMATE BOY TOY

Last night I had the privilege of attending the RM/Sotheby’s preview of the 1964 Aston Martin DB5 that starred in the James Bond films Goldfinger and Thunderball. Let me tell you, this car would bring out the little boy in everyone- regardless of age, gender, or previous passion for automobiles.

Who wouldn’t dream of owning an Aston Martin, let alone James Bond’s Aston Martin? It comes customized with 007 ‘Q-Branch’ gadgets such as machine guns, a bullet-proof shield, revolving number plates, tracking devices, a removable roof panel, oil-slick sprayer, nail-spreader and a smokescreen-all controlled from the special agent switches hidden in the centre arm-rest!

Known around the world by its original UK registration number, FMP 7B, this 1964 Aston Martin is one of the two original ‘007’ DB5s as featured on screen with Sean Connery – but it’s the only one remaining. The second one was bought and placed in storage by a private automobile collector. Despite attempts to keep the whereabouts of the car a secret, the second make was stolen. Suspicions surfaced speculating that was in the hands of a mafia boss who has more than one way to relate to the James Bond films. After a much publicized international police investigation, the cars disappearance remains unsolved.
When RM (in association with Sotheby’s) puts the car under the hammer on October 27th, at its luxury automobiles event at the Battersea Evolution venue, it will be the first time in history that this car has come to market. Through the extremely generous Mr. Roger Bell-Ogilby, I will actually be allowed to attend the auction event! The RM automobile auction house expects the sale price to top $5 million.

Originally loaned to EON Productions for the filming of the two Bond movies, the DB5 was returned to the Aston Martin Lagonda factory and then, in 1969, and immediately sold to Mr. Jerry Lee, an American radio broadcaster based in Philadelphia, for $12,000. It has remained in his possession and has rarely been seen publicly over the past 40+ years. Lee created a special garage for the car to control the temperature and moisture and decorated the walls with limited edition 007 memorabilia. He also had special generators created to ensure that the battery and custom gadgets would stay in perfect condition.

Mr. Lee plans to use the proceeds from the sale of FMP 7B to further the charitable work of The Jerry Lee Foundation, a multi-national initiative dedicated to solving social problems associated with poverty, and crime prevention in particular. The car is set to make its first 21st Century public appearance at the Bond-themed Midsummer Classic/Thunderball concourse and black-tie reception scheduled for 26 June at the Stoke Park Club, near London.