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1965 Aston Martin DB5 Sold for Record $6.38 Million in California

As of Thursday, August 15, the most expensive DB5 sold at an auction anywhere - and one of the most expensive cars in the world - is the 1965 Aston Martin DB5. During the Monterey car sale in California, RM Sotheby's got someone to pay $6,385,000 for the car used as a promotional ride for the Thunderball Bond movie decades ago.
1965 Aston Martin DB5 sells for $6,385,000 at auction 6 photos
Photo: Aston Martin
1965 Aston Martin DB51965 Aston Martin DB51965 Aston Martin DB51965 Aston Martin DB51965 Aston Martin DB5
The vehicle is one of two DB5 examples designed explicitly to support the first James Bond movies back in the 1960s. It was not featured in the films per se, but was used, together with its twin sister, to promote the Thunderball movie in North America.

Even if it is not actually a movie star, the car comes with several unique highlights that convinced someone to pay more than what Aston Martin was hoping to get for it – initial estimates were between $4 and $6 million.

Packed with modifications made by special effect expert John Stears, the car was purchased complete with a Browning .30 caliber machine gun in each fender (not firing actual bullets), wheel-hub mounted tire-slashers, smoke screen dispensers, revolving license plates, and a passenger-seat ejection system.

"It was an honor to offer the iconic James Bond 007 Aston Martin DB5 alongside our partners at Aston Martin and Aston Martin Works," said in a statement when announcing the sale Barney Ruprecht from RM Sotheby's.

"Beyond this new auction record, the enormous amount of interest in the car and excitement surrounding it ahead of the auction solidifies its status as the most famous car in the world, along with the collector car hobby's great respect for the Aston Martin brand."

In all, the Californian sale was a very lucrative one for the Brits. Aside from the DB5, there was another high-profile car on sale on Thursday. A DB5 from the same year, only in Shooting Brake configuration, managed to snatch $1,765,000.
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About the author: Daniel Patrascu
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Daniel loves writing (or so he claims), and he uses this skill to offer readers a "behind the scenes" look at the automotive industry. He also enjoys talking about space exploration and robots, because in his view the only way forward for humanity is away from this planet, in metal bodies.
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