Bond car makes comeback ahead of auction

[Blowfeld]

A James Bond Aston Martin car proved that the classics always age well when it returned to the scene of a London photo shoot it was originally used in more than 40 years ago.

The silver DB5, which was driven by Sean Connery as the super-spy in Goldfinger (1964) and Thunderball (1965), made its comeback ahead of going under the hammer on October 27.

Auctioneers are predicting the piece of cinematic history will have a less than vintage price tag and soar away for more than £3 million.

The car was used in a photo shoot in 1969 by its owner, American broadcasting boss Jerry Lee, outside the London Hilton on Park Lane and it has spent much of its time in the United States since then.

Like the 1969 picture, today's Bond-like set up was completed with a female model dressed in 1960s-style knee-high boots, leaving passers-by shaken but not stirred.

The 1964 car is being sold at Battersea Evolution in London by RM Auctions, together with Sotheby's.

Mr Lee bought the car for 12,000 US dollars in 1969 and hopes the sale will raise money for his charitable foundation.

He said previously: "The James Bond car has brought me much enjoyment for some 40 years.

"Even as I sell it and use the proceeds to fund the Jerry Lee Foundation, the car will continue to give me great pleasure as it furthers the mission of the foundation to do good around the world."

Mr Lee set up his foundation more than 10 years ago to support education and anti-crime projects around the world.