James Bond Gear Fetches High Prices At Bonhams Sale
According to a report from Easier Motoring, several Aston Martin and James Bond 007 items fetched high prices this past Saturday at Bonhams’ eighth annual Aston Martin sale at the Works Service facility in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire. The sale realised over £2.3-million with 94% of all lots selling.
Looking specifically at the Bond-related gear, the top seller was a Aston Martin gear lever knob with ejector seat button from the special effects DB5 car used in Goldfinger and Thunderball, fitted after filming when the car toured as an exhibition piece. In 1968 the car returned to the factory to be rebuilt as a standard DB5, and the gear knob was removed and retained by an employee at Works Service. Initially estimated at £1,500 – 1,800, this ultimate DB5 accessory finally sold for £41,100.
Other 007 items included a signed photograph of Sean Connery with the DB5 which sold for £13,800 (more than ten times the estimated price) and a scale model of the DB5 signed by ‘Pussy Galore’ actress Honor Blackman for £7,475 (initially estimated at £150 – 250).
James Knight, Group Head of Bonhams Motoring department said: ‘The single marque sales concept that Bonhams pioneered continues to be popular with our motoring clients. Sales figures for our Aston Martin auction increase year on year and world record prices continue to be broken. Bonhams’ multi-million pound sales totals during the last fortnight are strong indicators that the market is healthy.’
For further information on the sale, including details on the Aston Martin products featured, click here.
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