H&H Classics sales manager James McWilliam said: “Our October auction offers a fantastic opportunity to own a slice of movie and motoring history with this stunning Aston Martin Vanquish. Not only was it used at Pinewood Studios for photoshoots with Pierce Brosnan for Die Another Day, but it was also the first car to drive down the M6 Toll to commemorate its opening in 2003.”
The 2001 Vanquish, which can reach almost 200mph, has only covered 37,800 miles from new and has been in a private collection for more than 20 years.
In case you’re having trouble remembering the plot of Die Another Day, let’s just say that we totally understand. It wasn’t one of the most critically acclaimed Bond films ever made. I think the plot had something to do with North Korea and a rogue colonel, then somehow Bond ends up in a chase scene in Iceland on a frozen lake where missiles start flying.
Actually, that sounds a lot like something we might see in a modern-day Fast & Furious movie, but I digress.
Those of you who are genuinely interested in the car will be interested to know that the sale is taking place on Wednesday, October 9, at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford, courtesy of H&H Classics. This Vanquish, which also sported the number plate ‘M16 SPY’ for a brief while, has just 37,800 miles on the clock, and began life as one of seven Vanquish models retained by Aston Martin for press duties.
At that time, this was described as the ultimate grand tourer, its main rival being the Ferrari 550 Maranello and its successor, the 575. I guess you could say that both cars were movie stars, the latter playing a major role in Bad Boy 2 and arguably seeing even more screen time and action than its British rival.
An opportunity to own a piece of British film history will present itself in H&H Classics’ upcoming auction at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford.An Aston Martin Vanquish used by James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan and EON Productions to promote Die Another Day will be one of the cars on offer and, before you ask, it unfortunately can’t turn visible like the one in the film. It is, however, powered by a V12 engine and produces a top speed of nearly 200mph. The GT was one of seven Vanquish cars used by Aston Martin for press duties and ‘Y834 MWL’ has had its fair share of media attention, featuring in various publications before its photoshoot with Brosnan.
The sale car was specifically chosen for the Die Another Day photoshoot as it had the same Tungsten Silver paint with Charcoal leather and an aluminium centre console as the model in the film. Despite its lack of gadgets in real life, the interior of the Vanquish combined traditional materials with technology that was considered to be state of the art at the time of release. Die Another Day was Brosnan’s final Bond film and strengthened ties between EON Productions and Aston Martin after several films in the 1990s used cars from other manufacturers. The subsequent Daniel Craig films have had all their cars supplied by Aston Martin.
Aside from James Bond, this particular Vanquish led a parade of cars to commemorate the opening of the M6 Toll road in 2003. It is estimated to fetch between £50,000 to £70,000 at auction.
James McWilliam, sales manager at H&H Classics, said: “As well as the close connection to James Bond and Pierce Brosnan, who himself owned a 2002 Aston Martin V12 Vanquish, the car is also a superb example of the marque’s last hand-built grand tourer.”
The H&H Classics auction will be held at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford on October 9th. Futher information can be found at here.
