If you’re a fan of classic cars or spy movies and you have a few million dollars handy, head to London on Oct. 27 and check out the Aston Martin Silver Birch DB5s, a.k.a. James Bond’s effects car. The vehicle appeared with 007 in two movies and comes complete with the effects. Car owner Jerry Lee, a Philadelphia-area radio station owner, has been keeping the car in a downstairs room in his house for 40 years, but hasn’t taken it out on any missions.
Although this isn’t the first James Bond car to go on sale, its major draw comes from its authenticity. It’s the only version of the car still around that was actually used in the Bond films (the other one vanished mysteriously in 1997 from an airport hangar in Boca Raton, Fla). Another Bond car was sold for $2.1 million in 2006, but was only a promotional replica.
Lee was reluctant to put the car up to auction, but when he heard experts peg the value of the car at around $5 million (with points scored for rarity) he decided he’d get more mileage using the funds for his philanthropic foundation.
While you may not have the means to buy an Aston Martin, you can still see what it’s like to take a spin in one.
Stories You Might Like
There’s a lot happening in the world. Through it all, Marketplace is here for you.
You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible.
Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.
