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“The Living Daylights” James Bond’s 1973 Aston Martin V8 Soon to be Auctioned

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James Bond's Aston Martin Auction

An Aston Martin featured in a James Bond film is about to hit the auction block, but it’s not the “Goldfinger” DB5 that you may be thinking of.

As part of the Monterey Car Week sale, orchestrated by RM Sotheby’s and set for August 17-19, a 1973 Aston Martin V8 will be up for grabs. This automobile starred in the 1987 James Bond film, “The Living Daylights”, an often overlooked installment of the Bond series that introduced Timothy Dalton as the new 007. Dalton would only retain this role for one more film.

Aston Martin Vanquish Brief

“The Living Daylights” signified the return of Aston Martin to the Bond universe following an extended break. Similar to the other Aston Martins that have been associated with Bond, both before and after, this V8 was fitted with a number of spy-like accessories, such as a rocket booster and deployable skis.

A Glimpse at the 1973 Aston Martin V8

Several vehicles were employed during the filming, including four fully functional ones and seven fiberglass replicas. The vehicle set for auction, referred to as car 10 during production, is one of the four operational ones. It was modified with a roll cage, a sunroof, and redesigned to resemble a more contemporary Aston Martin V8. These updates, along with the rocket booster and ski props, were made to ensure consistency among the other cars.

Car 10 had a scene where it was driven down a slope into a snow pile, necessitating the removal of its engine and transmission to lessen its weight. It managed to endure this ordeal and was retained by the Bond production company, Eon Productions, until 1995. It was then sold to Peter Nelson, a UK-based James Bond enthusiast, along with two other “Living Daylights” Astons. (The fourth fully functional car remained with Eon Productions.)

Another Look at the 1973 Aston Martin V8

The car exchanged ownership several more times and eventually ended up in the United States. It has been restored to a drivable condition, fitted with a new 5.3-liter V-8 engine taken from the more potent V8 Vantage model, along with the right 5-speed manual transmission. Corrosion damage was fixed, and the front part was repainted, as indicated in the auction listing.

While “The Living Daylights” might not be the most renowned Bond film, and the Aston Martin V8 might not carry the same symbolic status as the DB5, this is nonetheless a bona fide Bond vehicle anticipated to fetch a substantial sum at auction. In 2019, one of the James Bond DB5s was sold for over $6 million. However, for this car, RM Sotheby’s estimates a sale price between $1.4 and $1.8 million.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about James Bond’s Aston Martin Auction

What car from a James Bond film is going up for auction?

A 1973 Aston Martin V8, featured in the James Bond film “The Living Daylights,” is set to be auctioned.

When and where is this James Bond Aston Martin V8 going to be auctioned?

The car will be auctioned during the Monterey Car Week sale, organized by RM Sotheby’s, scheduled for August 17-19.

What James Bond film was the Aston Martin V8 featured in?

The Aston Martin V8 was used in the 1987 James Bond film, “The Living Daylights.”

Who was the Bond actor in “The Living Daylights”?

“The Living Daylights” marked the debut of Timothy Dalton as James Bond.

What modifications were made to the Aston Martin V8 for the movie?

The Aston Martin V8 was equipped with various gadgets, such as a rocket booster and deployable skis. It also received a roll cage, a sunroof, and was redesigned to resemble a newer model of the Aston Martin V8.

What is the estimated auction price for the James Bond’s Aston Martin V8?

RM Sotheby’s estimates the auction price for this Aston Martin V8 to be between $1.4 million to $1.8 million.

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6 comments

JayJay91 July 24, 2023 - 2:43 pm

Timothy Dalton my fav bond! Never knew they auctioned the cars off like that. learn something new everyday huh…

Reply
BondFan101 July 24, 2023 - 11:06 pm

Its from the living daylights, ppl! Worth every penny I say! Bet it goes for more than the estimate…

Reply
RoadsterRicky July 24, 2023 - 11:22 pm

They took out the engine and trany for a scene?? dang, movie biz is crazy

Reply
TommyGear7 July 25, 2023 - 5:25 am

Man, can’t wait for the auction. That car’s a classic!! its the james bond’s car for godsake!!!

Reply
VintageWheels July 25, 2023 - 8:24 am

Aston Martin and Bond… name a more iconic duo! wait you can’t, hahaha

Reply
GearheadGary July 25, 2023 - 1:36 pm

sure it’s not the Goldfinger DB5 but hey its got gadgets, skis and a roll cage! its pure bond!

Reply

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