James Bond’s Aston Martin V8 is Up for Sale

Do you fancy owning a car that’s been driven by a British icon?

Well, if you have a spare $1.4 million then you could do exactly that.

That’s because the stunning Aston Martin V8 which featured in the 1987 James Bond film The Living Daylights has officially been put up for sale by auctioneer RM Sotherby’s.

• Image Credit: 1973 Aston Martin V8 “The Living Daylights” Robin Adams ©2023 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

So, if you’re a fan of the world-famous spy, The Windscreen Company is here to provide you with all the information about this exciting opportunity.   

James Bond’s Aston Martin V8 up for sale 

Famous for his gadgets, martinis (shaken not stirred) and action-packed adventures, James Bond is also synonymous with Aston Martin cars. 

Over the years, 007 has got behind the wheel of many of the luxury brand’s most iconic motors, and this was also the case in the 1987 outing The Living Daylights where Timothy Dalton played the titular role. 

The Aston Martin V8 driven in the movie has been put up for auction, and is one of the rarest Bond cars available. This is because, unlike for most Bond movies, Aston Martin was unable to supply regular vehicles for filming as they had a backlog of orders to fulfil at the time. This meant production had to purchase the vehicles, and only four were ever used in the film. 

Since filming, many modifications have been made to the vehicle including restoring the V540 V8 Vantage-spec engine and five-speed manual gearbox which had to be removed during filming.

The vehicle has been owned by various private collectors since 1995, but has now been put up for sale. The other three vehicles used during the movie have owners (two in the USA and one was retained by production staff) meaning this really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 

However, as mentioned above bidding starts at a staggering $1.4 million.  

The history of Aston Martin and James Bond

Just like fish and chips and strawberries and cream, James Bond and Aston Martin is another British combination that just feels right.

Aston Martin cars have appeared in 14 of the 27 James Bond films, including classics such as Tomorrow Never Dies, Die Another Day and Casino Royale. 

The manufacturer first appeared in a Bond movie in the 1964 hit Goldfinger and has become a staple of the franchise ever since. 

In 2006, when Daniel Craig took on the role, Aston Martin and EON (the production company who makes Bond movies) agreed a deal for the brand to appear in all films in the Craig movies – something they delivered up until the actor’s final outing in the 2021 movie No Time to Die.

The most expensive James Bond cars 

The Aston Martin V8 is not the first James Bond vehicle to be sold at auction. 

In fact, a number of the franchise’s most iconic cars have been through the auction process.

Let’s take a look at some of the previous cars that have been sold in this way:

• Video Credit: Every Aston Martin in James Bond Explained | WIRED

Lotus Esprit S1 ‘Wet Nellie’ – The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

Undoubtedly one of the coolest vehicles ever to feature in a Bond movie, Lotus’ Wet Nellie saw Roger Moore’s 007 use the car both on the road and in water. 

It sold at an auction in London in 2013 for £616,000, a huge 4908% more than it was valued at. After filming was completed in the 1970s, the vehicle was actually lost for many years before being found in a shipping container in New York in 1989.

Land Rover Defender 110 Double Cab SVX – Spectre (2015)

Used in stunning chase sequences through the Austrian mountains, two of the Land Rover Defenders sold for £230,000 and £365,000 respectively in 2018. This was in part due to the brand releasing a 70th anniversary version of the formidable vehicle that saw demand soar. 

Mercury Cougar XR7 – On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)

This vehicle was used by the Contessa Teresa Di Vicenzo, also known as Tracy Bond, in the blockbuster On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. It shared scenes with George Lazenby’s Aston Martin DBS-6 throughout the movie and was sold for £365,500 in 2020 – 559% above its value.  

Aston Martin DBS V12 – Quantum of Solace (2008)

One of seven vehicles used during filming, the Aston Martin DBS V12 sold for £241, 250 in 2012. The buyer was informed that if they wanted to use it as a road car, they would have to pay separately for all the necessary tests, repairs and legal formalities. 

Aston Martin DB5 – Goldfinger (1964) & Thunderball (1965)

Arguably one of the most iconic Aston Martins to ever feature in a James Bond film, the DB5 was used for two Sean Connery outings. 

And at auction it showed. 

In 2019, the car was sold for a whopping £4.7 million – the highest-ever price for a James Bond vehicle. 

No matter what you drive, at The Windscreen Company, we’re here to keep you safe when behind the wheel. While it’s unlikely you’ll be in many car chases like 007 himself, if your windscreen has sustained any damage we’re here to fix it and get you moving again.

Check out the full list of cars we service, and get in touch if you require any windscreen repairs or replacements.