The 10 Most Expensive Bond Cars Ever Sold at Auction

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Posted by Jeff Perez 

 

                               

                                  

James Bond is an icon of the silver screen. Not only for his dashing good looks, but also for the cars that he drives. And over the 50-plus years that Bond has been on screen, he’s managed to drive some of the most stunning vehicles on the planet.

 

From Aston Martin to Rolls-Royce, and everything in between. Bond’s collection of cars not only manage to capture the imagination, but also happen to fetch big bucks when they cross the auction block. These nine vehicles are the most expensive—and recognizable—from the Bond franchise.

Rolls-Royce Phantom III

$121,000

In 1964’s Goldfinger, the Rolls-Royce Phantom in question wasn’t technically a Bond car. It was actually driven by the villain, Goldfinger, and was a pretty pristine piece of engineering back in the day (and still is).

 

This example sold at auction way back in 1986, where it fetched only $121,000. If the current owner decides to put it up for auction anytime in the near future, it could be closer to the top of this list.

BMW Z8 Roadster Replica

$136,660

The BMW Z8 has the unique distinction as being one of the few non-British cars Bond has driven in his over 50 years on screen. BMW was the go-to Bond brand for part of Pierce Brosnan’s run as 007, and several vehicles were featured in GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, and this Z8 from The World is Not Enough. But that doesn’t make it any less unique.

Since BMW was not yet in production of the Z8, the German marque sent over a shell of the vehicle to the prop shop, where they then dropped a Chevy V8 in it for the film. Two cars were built, one destroyed in filming, the other selling for £85,250 ($136,660) at auction in 2012.

Lotus Esprit

$165,445

No, this one doesn’t swim. But it is one of two fully-driving Lotus Esprits used for 1977’s The Spy Who Loved Me, and 1981’s For Your Eyes Only. It featured a ‘rocket launcher’ button on the gear shifter, along with a few other features that were later removed by Lotus and returned to stock.

In 2008, this car crossed the Bonhams auction block in London where it sold for £111,500 ($165,445)

Lotus Esprit Turbo

 $172,000

In the 1981 film For Your Eyes Only, Bond revived his love for Lotus with a handsome copper Esprit Turbo. It really was the skis on top that sealed the deal for enthusiasts, and in 2009, it sold at the Coys auction in London for a respectable $172,000.

Aston Martin V12 Vanquish

$221,920

The first of the two Aston Martin V12 Vanquishs comes from 2002’s Die Another Day. They follow in a long heritage of Bond Aston Martins, and this was the first Aston Martin Bond had driven in over 15 years. This particular V12 Vantage went home with one lucky new owner for £210,500 ($221,920).

Aston Martin V12 Vanquish

 $337,630

In the same year, in the same film (Die Another Day), another version of the Aston Martin V12 Vanquish crossed the block at Bonhams in London where it went home for slightly more than the one before it; £210,500 ($337,630).

Aston Martin DBS

$390,700

In 2008’s Quantam of Solace, Bond once again was behind the wheel of a large and lovely Aston Martin with a V12 under the hood. This time, it was the DBS, and like all the Bond vehicles before it, it was fitted with a number of spy special features.
This one landed at Christie’s in London where it sold for £241,250 ($390,700).

Lotus Esprit Submarine

$966,560

In the 1977 film The Spy Who Loved Me, and then again in For Your Eyes Only (1981), Bond traded in his Aston Martin for something arguably just as British—a Lotus. But it wasn’t just any Lotus. This custom Lotus Esprit also acted as a submarine—yes, a real, working submarine.

In September of 2013, it crossed the block at RM Auctions in London where it went home with one lucky new owner for $966,560. Too bad he can’t drive it.

Aston Martin DB10

$3,473,420

Never in the history of the Bond series has a car been custom-built from the ground up by a manufacturer. For 2015’s Spectre, Bond was behind the wheel of the stunning DB11 custom-built by Aston Martin for the film.

With a number of examples being built for the film, the car was not available to the customer though Aston Martin. Only after filming, did one of the last remaining examples cross the Cristie’s auction block in London where it took home an impressive £2,434,500 ($3,473,420).

Aston Martin DB5

$4,596,000

The one, the only—the Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger (1964). Whether you’re a Bond fan or not, the DB5 in question has cemented itself in history as the most famous Bond vehicle.

Complete with retractable tire slashers, a radar scanner, a passenger ejector seat, and loads of other goodies, it was the ideal vehicle for a British spy like Bond.

In 2010, the car crossed the auction block at RM Auctions in London, where it went home for a jaw-dropping £2,912,000 ($4,596,000). It still carries the title as the most expensive Bond car ever sold.