The original Bond’s DB5

Broad Arrow Auctions, Monterey, USA 18 August

ALTHOUGH THIS ISN’T a genuine Bond car – at least in the sense that it never appeared in one of the films – it does have one particularly special owner in its history file: Sir Sean Connery. The Scottish actor who first played Bond in the film franchise bought this car later in life, having always loved the DB5 but never owned one.

Connery enlisted the help of specialist RS Williams to track down a suitable car, and DB5/1681/R was sourced. It was an original right-hand-drive UK car, which was given a full ‘mechanical freshening’ by the specialist.

As any real Bond Aston nerd will be able to tell you, the original film cars weren’t actually painted in Silver Birch but a slightly darker shade known as Snow Shadow Grey. This is the colour that Connery requested RS Williams to repaint his DB5, which had originally left the factory in black.

Since then, the DB5 has been serviced by RS Williams, and is offered after a recent thorough service and inspection in preparation for the auction. Offered for sale directly from the Connery estate, Broad Arrow has placed an estimate of $1.4-1.8million on the car – which will go under the hammer at its inaugural sale at the Monterey Jet Center.

If bidding on Sir Sean Connery’s personal DB5 isn’t enough of a draw to the auction, there are two other sweeteners on offer. First, the Connery family has committed to donating a significant portion of the sale proceeds to benefit the Sean Connery Philanthropy Fund.

Not only that, but F1 legend Sir Jackie Stewart – an old friend of Connery – has offered to take the new owner of the DB5 out for a drive in the car. That’s an honour in itself, but also an opportunity to hear a bit more about Sir Sean from a lifelong friend who, like Connery, has taken pride in charitable work for many decades.