James Bond’s Aston Martin hits auction block

LOS ANGELES — The Aston Martin spy car from the James Bond movies “Thunderball” and “Goldfinger” — complete with machine guns and tire slashers — is on the auction block.

The 1965 Aston Martin DB5 could fetch up to $2.5 million at RM Auctions’ 7th Annual Vintage Motor Cars Auction on Jan. 20 in Phoenix, Ariz.

“The James Bond Aston Martin DB5 is one of the most famous cars in the world. It’s just amazing. This is by far and away the most popular car we have seen in our 26 years of hosting collector car auctions,” RM Auctions co-founder Rob Myers said in a telephone interview Tuesday.

It is one of only four cars originally constructed and used for 1964’s “Goldfinger” and 1965’s “Thunderball” as well as promotional tour use. The auction car was primarily used for promotion.

Some of the special James Bond options on the Aston Martin include Browning machine guns, a wheel-mounted tire slasher, a retractable rear bulletproof screen, an oil slick ejector and a smoke screen system.

Formerly the property of Sir Anthony Bamford, the famed James Bond Aston Martin is one of several celebrity cars offered from Tennessee’s Smoky Mountain Car Museum — where it has been on display since the late 1970s.

Also on the auction block will be Al Capone’s 1928 Cadillac, Hank Williams Jr.’s 1964 Pontiac and a stable of $1 million-plus vehicles.

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