Sean Connery’s DB5 for sale this week

Your eyes don’t deceive you

Yes, that is quite a heading. And we do mean the late, great actor, Sir Sean Connery, and not his most famous character James Bond.

Because, it seems, not only did 007 have a soft spot for Aston Martin’s classic DB5, so too did Connery.

And this 1964 example will cross the block with Broad Arrow Group at its Monterey Jet Center Auction this month, during the world-famous Monterey Car Week.

Here’s its story.

As seen on screen

This is a photo of Sean Connery and an Aston Martin DB5 we’re sure you’ll recognise.

Of course, this was captured during the filming for the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger, which was Connery’s second outing as 007, after 1962’s Dr No, but it was the movie in which the DB5 made its silver screen debut. 

Model behaviour

This is more the kind of Silver Birch DB5 most of us can afford. This Playmobil version of the original Goldfinger Aston was released last October, soon after the franchise’s 25th film, No Time To Die, appeared in cinemas.

The cost? £69.99.

On the other hand, the DB5 owned by Connery is expected to achieve $1.4-1.8m (c£1.1-1.4m).

Seven figure sums

For a bit of context, the most ever achieved by an Aston Martin DB5 at auction was $6,385,000 – but then that was in August 2019 when RM Sotheby’s sold one of two examples bought by Eon Productions, the production company behind the James Bond films.

Next is another 1965 car, this time driven by a different 007, Pierce Brosnan, in the 1995 film GoldenEye, which sold for $2,460,205 with Bonhams in July 2018.

Bonhams also auctioned a 1964 DB5 that had formerly been owned by both Sir Paul McCartney and Chris Evans for $1,687,589 in December 2017.

Famous friends

So, yes, it is a lot of money.

A ‘significant portion’ of this car’s sale price will be invested into the Sean Connery Philanthropy Fund, plus the winning bidder will be taken on a drive in the DB5 by Sir Jackie Stewart, the triple Formula One drivers’ champion who was a lifelong friend of Connery.

Every little helps

Connery and Stewart did charity work together for more than 40 years, so this is a wonderful incentive to help raise more much-needed funds.

And the Connery family has long been a supporter of Stewart’s charity, Race Against Dementia.

The numbers bit

The DB5 being offered by Broad Arrow Group on 18 August 2022 in California is being sold from the Connery estate.

DB5/1681/R is the only DB5 ever owned by Sir Sean Connery.

Colourful cabin

As you can see, this classic Aston Martin’s cabin is trimmed differently from that seen on screen.

Instead of black, here the leather is a rich – and very attractive – shade of red.

Smoothly does it

There are, pleasingly, no surprises under the bonnet, Aston Martin’s triple-carb, 4.0-litre straight-six gleaming and ready to fire into life once again.

We understand the car has been serviced and inspected by marque specialist RS Williams prior to this sale.

50 shades of grey

Look carefully, though, and you will realise this ’64 DB5 is not finished in 007-spec Silver Birch.

No, this car is Snow Shadow Grey.

Real-world thrills

Connery Jnr continues: “He did tell me that driving the movie cars, all laden down with the gadgets, especially the machine guns in the front, made the car really front heavy and turning at slow speed was a Herculean task, so driving without gadgets was a joy!

“He loved how well balanced it was. Dad also said he would have kept the ejector seat! I didn’t ask who for?!”

The search is over

This car was sourced for Connery through RS Williams, after he embarked on a quest to buy himself the best example he could.

Today, Broad Arrow Group describes it as being ‘in highly presentable condition’.

Back to the start

This aluminium-bodied car was delivered new to its first owner, Mr A White, on 7 July 1964.

It spent much of its life in the UK, until bought by Sean Connery.

Whatever’s needed

And, as you might expect for a classic owned by one of the world’s most famous film stars, this DB5 has been well cared for.

It was repainted and had some mechanical work carried out by RS Williams upon acquisition.

Unmistakable

Those famous lines by Milan-based Carrozzeria Touring are as beautiful as ever – and, thanks to Connery’s James Bond roles, highly sought after.

That the DB5 reappeared in 2021’s No Time To Die won’t hurt one bit.

In safe hands

And with its five-speed manual gearbox and Girling disc brakes, strong performance and stopping power will help make any drive in this a treat.

Need a few pointers? If you’re lucky enough to be the winning bidder, perhaps you can ask Sir Jackie Stewart when he takes you for a spin.

Attention seeker

James Bond and the Aston Martin DB5 are inextricably linked – and because Connery was the Bond who first brought the car to our screens, perhaps he more than any other 007 actor is associated with this iconic car.

So while it is very easy – and often quite right – to think ‘so what?’ about celebrity-owned classic cars, in this case the link is a special one.

The countdown is on

Sir Sean Connery’s Aston Martin DB5 is being sold by Broad Arrow Group at its Monterey Jet Center Auction on 18 August 2022.

To find out more about the sale, please click here.