The James Bond film franchise has played host of what are unequivocally some of the most iconic movie cars of all time, and while the international super spy has driven all manner of different makes and models — from Ford to Triumph to Lotus to Toyota — 007 is undoubtedly best known for piloting Aston Martins. And more than three and a half decades after first hitting the silver screen, a film-used James Bond Aston Martin movie car is now headed to auction – Q gadgets and all.
Used extensively on-screen in the filming of 1987’s The Living Daylights, this 1973 Aston Martin V8 began life as a Volante-spec convertible and was personally owned by then-Aston Martin chairman Victor Gauntlett. Marking the first appearance of an Aston Martin in a Bond film in close to two decades — with the prior appearance being a DBS in 1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service — this ’73 specimen was one of four examples used during the film’s production — which shared a total of seven prop fiberglass shells.
It isn’t just the fact that this Aston Martin was featured in a Bond flick that makes it special, however, as the car still features its full suite of gadgets and upgrades from the secret service’s Q Branch. This includes a set of actual skis mounted to the vehicle — used in the ’87 flick after Bond has one of his tires blown off — along with the even more noteworthy flame-spitting rocket booster that’s been integrated into a custom rear panel that also serves as the surrounds for the V8 engine’s dual exhaust setup at the back-end of the car. Since filming wrapped, the V8 has been in the possession of EON Productions and the Peter Nelson collections, though is now seeking a new home. The car is also eligible for a variety of historic and vintage race events including the Ice St. Moritz.
Scheduled to take its turn crossing the auction block at RM Sotheby’s upcoming Monterey sale starting August 17, this film-used 1973 Aston Martin V8 “The Living Daylights” James Bond movie car is expected to fetch between $1,400,000 and $1,800,000.
