1964 ASTON MARTIN DB5 'THE REAL JAMES BOND
MOVIE CAR'
RM Auctions is proud to represent the one of only two - and only
known remaining - original 007 Aston Martin DB5 movie car at its
October 27, 2010 'Automobiles of London' auction at Battersea
Evolution, London, UK.
Chassis: DB5/1486/R; Engine: 400/1469/V; Original UK Reg: FMP
7B
FMP 7B Technical Details & Notes
- Silver Birch exterior paint;
Dark Grey leather interior
- Engine: 3,995 cc/ Power:
282 bhp (210 kW) at 5500 rpm/ Torque: 288 lb·ft
(390 N·m) at 3850 rpm/ Top Speed: 145 mph
(233 km/h)/ 0-60 mph (97 km/h) Acceleration: 7.1 s
(all figures quoted are for a 'standard' car without gadgets)
- As the 'Road Car' driven by Sean
Connery in Goldfinger, FMP 7B was fitted with one of
the first Vantage engine of any DB5, however, it displays triple SU
carbs rather than Webers
- For Thunderball, FMP 7B
was fitted with the full complement of famous Bond 'gadgets' - by
the Factory - that are seen onscreen, including machine guns,
bullet-proof shield, revolving number plates, tracking device,
removable roof panel, oil slick sprayer, nail spreader and smoke
screen - all controlled from factory installed toggles and switches
hidden in the center arm-rest
FMP 7B and its movie history
- Two Aston Martin DB5s were used
on screen for the production of the timeless 1960's James Bond
classics, Goldfinger and Thunderball. One of
those two cars was reported stolen in 1997 and is believed to have
been destroyed. The other is FMP 7B
- Bond's Aston Martin DB5 and its
gadgets were the brainchild of Oscar-award-winning special effects
expert John Stears, also of Star Wars and Chitty
Chitty Bang Bang fame
- FMP 7B was the 'Road Car' used
in Goldfinger . Featured in various locations and intended
for the fast driving sequences, FMP 7B was given substantial screen
time, most notably the scenes at the Stoke Park Club and, even more
recognizably, when Bond is spying on Mr. Goldfinger from the
picturesque Furka Pass in Switzerland
- For
Thunderball, FMP 7B was to have most of the screen
time, so it was fitted with the full complement of gadgets which it
carries to this day
- FMP 7B, the only remaining Bond
DB5 movie car in existence, is extremely original. Its
specification has not changed since its appearance in
Thunderball and virtually all its distinctive gadgets
remain intact - a remarkable discovery
FMP 7B is sold to Mr Jerry Lee
- Sold in 1969 to American Mr.
Jerry Lee - FMP 7B's first ex-factory and remaining owner
- Mr. Lee pursued FMP 7B and
eventually negotiated its purchase from the Aston Martin factory
for $12,000
- For a time, Mr. Lee agreed to
allow Aston Martin to continue to use FMP 7B for promotional
purposes in the USA
- FMP 7B enjoyed record-breaking
crowds at exhibitions on numerous occasions throughout the
seventies, until the car was pulled from public life in 1977
- FMP 7B was shown publicly
exactly twice over the ensuing 30+ years: once at the NY Motor Show
in 1981 (making its second appearance there) and secondly at the
Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance in 1993
- Otherwise, and until now, FMP 7B
had remained completely out of public view, stored as a static
display in Mr. Lee's home
FMP 7B Today
- The odometer shows approximately
30,000 miles, mostly - one presumes - from its tour usage
- It is in highly original
condition and was repainted at some stage
- The original dark grey interior
remains in generally good condition, displaying a remarkably
authentic and appealing original patina to match the mileage
- A careful re-commissioning
program was recently undertaken by RM Auto Restoration, returning
the car to running condition after its long-term static storage.
Mechanically, this included a head-off engine service, a new
clutch, a fully rebuilt braking system and new exhaust piping.
(Completed in April/May 2010)
- The systems running the modified
devices have been serviced as well, for more reliable and robust
demonstration. This includes the revolving number plates, machine
guns, bulletproof rear shield, smoke screen, tracking device and
electric release of removable roof panel and smoke screen
Proceeds from the sale of FMP 7B
Proceeds of the sale of FMP 7B will be used to further the
charitable work of 'The Jerry Lee Foundation', a multi-national
initiative dedicated to solving social problems associated with
poverty, with an emphasis on crime prevention. The Foundation
supports programs at the University of Pennsylvania and Cambridge
University (UK), and it has established the Stockholm Prize in
Criminology, for which Mr. Lee received a Swedish knighthood in
2008, as well as programs in Australia, Norway and Washington,
DC
About Mr. Jerry Lee
- Jerry Lee has committed his life
to improving the global community through the promotion of social
science research into the causes of such social problems as poverty
and crime. His dedication to reducing human misery and injustice
has resulted in extraordinary achievements in Criminology and
Social Science education in general
- In addition to Criminology,
Jerry has had a long-time interest in education. Jerry Lee is also
President and Owner of the last independent major metropolitan area
top-ranked radio station, B101 (WBEB-FM) Philadelphia. He is on the
Board of the Broadcasters' Foundation and was inducted into the
Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame in 2004
RM Auctions 'Automobiles of London' - 27 October,
2010
Now in its fourth year, 'Automobiles of London' is now a
well-established sale on the European collector car calendar and
takes place at Battersea Evolution, London, United Kingdom.
RM Auctions is the world's largest collector car auction house and
specializes in investment-quality automobiles, holding four of the
top five world record prices for motor cars sold at auction.
|
