Lights, camera, action! This year marks the 60th anniversary of the iconic James Bond franchise. Since 1962, Bond has been globetrotting from the Alps to the Amazon, foiling countless plans of villainy and world domination. While he’s not skiing, surfing or sampling a vodka martini from the nearest watering hole, you can usually find him behind the wheel of his trusty Aston Martin.
To mark this historic anniversary, 007’s production company EON has teamed up with world leading British auction house Christie’s to hold a two-part charity auction featuring cars, clothes and props used by both Bond and his nemeses throughout the years.
Without doubt, the star of the show is the breathtaking silver birch Aston Martin DB5 stunt car. As one of eight replicas built for the film, this incredible vehicle comes fit with “Q Branch” modifications, making it the ultimate collectors’ piece.
It is expected to sell for $1.6m to $2.1m. However, as the only DB5 stunt car to be released for sale, the sky is the limit. The proceeds from this lot will go to The Princes’s Trust in its work with young people and the Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund’s support of charities that assist serving and former members of the three Intelligence Agencies and UK Special Forces.
The Earl of Snowdon, honorary chairman of Christie’s EMEA, said: “One of my earliest childhood memories is obsessively playing with a diecast Aston Martin DB5. The incredible landmark live and online auctions will hopefully raise record sums for all the wonderful charitable causes chosen.”
During the auction, two further Aston Martins will be offered – a 1981 Aston Martin V8 driven by Daniel Craig in No Time To Die and an Aston Martin DBS Superleggera No Time To Die 007 Special Edition. This vehicle features a unique plaque signed by producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli in addition to Lashana Lynch, who played Nomi in the film.
Showcasing a total of 60 individual lots, the majority of pieces are from the most recent film No Time To Die, Daniel Craig’s final hurrah as the British spy. However, there are also pieces that represent every era of Bond.
Content from our partners
The live auction will be held on September 28 by invitation only. Fans and collectors worldwide will be able to bid online using Christie’s Live, via telephone or by leaving an absentee bid.
This auction will feature 25 lots comprising vehicles, watches, costumes, and props from No Time To Die, with the final six lots representing each iconic portrayal of James Bond. Each of these lots will be sold to benefit a charity chosen personally by each Bond. A particular highlight is a five-night stay at Ian Fleming’s — the writer of the original James Bond stories — villa at the Goldeneye estate in Jamaica. This lot represents Sir Sean Connery’s tenure as Bond with the proceeds going to The Scottish Youth Film Foundation.
The remaining 35 lots span the breadth of the 25 Bond films and will be part of an online sale that concludes October 5 — James Bond Day. The previous three Christie’s 007 auctions have raised a total of $7.2 million for charitable causes with this new auction expected to add considerably to the tally.
To view the full 60 lots being offered visit Sixty Years of James Bond | Christie’s.
