Roger Moore's Aston Martin DBS sets World Record

| 19 May 2014

An Aston Martin DBS used by Roger Moore in The Persuaders! has sold for an astounding £533,500 at Bonhams' Newport Pagnell sale, the highest price ever paid for a DBS at auction.

The 1970 model was modified for its role in the TV series and featured in almost all of the programme's 24 episodes. The six-cylinder car was adapted to look like a V8 version and was finished in Bahama Yellow. Despite setting a new world record, it fell just shy of its £550,000 pre-sale upper estimate.

1970 Aston Martin DBS The Persuaders!

Of the 49 cars to go under the hammer, the most shocking result was posted by the barnfind 1963 Aston Martin DB5 Vantage prototype, which shattered pre-sale expectations by selling for £393,500 – four times more than was anticipated.

1963 Aston Martin DB5 Vantage prototype

The exact same sum would have been enough to drive home in a DB5 saloon from 1965 that wouldn't have looked out of place in any collection.

1965 Aston Martin DB5

The top price of the day was achieved by a 1970 DB6 Mk2 Volante, which crossed the block for £757,500. One of just 38 examples built, it had been owned by two enthusiasts since new.

1970 Aston Martin DB6 Mk2

An earlier DB6 Volante from 1969 also sold well, fetching £539,100.

1969 Aston Martin DB6 Volante

The success story didn't hold true for every lot, with the £900,000 expected for the 1961 DB4GT Zagato recreation failing to materialise. The headline car wasn't tempting enough to find a new home.

1961 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato recreation

A 1952 DB2 fared considerably better, beating its upper estimate of £90,000 to eventually sell for £130,300 – despite the new owner having to pay import tax amounting to £6515.

1952 Aston Martin DB2

Several barnfind Aston Martins were included in the sale, all selling for impressively large sums. Away from the headline-grabbing 1963 DB5, a 1954 DB2/4 drew a great deal of attention. Despite an estimate of just £30-50,000, it sold for £79,900.

1954 Aston Martin DB2/4

In total, £8.7million changed hands witnessed by more than 2500 people who had descended on Aston Martin's Newport Pagnell works.

Bonhams' group motoring director James Knight said: “We’ve had glorious weather, excellent hospitality and some truly stunning motor cars starring in today’s auction.
 
“The sale has been one of surprise and delight, from selling a DB5 Sports Saloon project at four times its estimate to setting world records with The Persuaders! Aston Martin DBS."