Aston Martin built for James Bond heading to auction

An original Aston Martin DB5 car, one of just three surviving examples, fitted with James Bond specifications as pictured in the film Goldfinger which will be offered for auction by RM Sotheby's, is shown in this photo provided June 12, 2019. Simon Clay © 2019 Courtesy of RM SothebyÕs/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY NO RESALES, NO ARCHIVE

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A 1965 Aston Martin DB5 outfitted with special gadgets for James Bond, such as tire slashers, machine guns and a bulletproof shield, will go up for auction in August, the auction house announced on Wednesday.

The vehicle painted gray is expected to fetch between $4 million and $6 million, according to a statement from RM Sotheby's.

The car was never seen in Bond films, but matches the one that "007" - the code number by which Bond was often known - drove in the movies "Goldfinger," and "Thunderball."

A raised rear bullet-proof screen of an original Aston Martin DB5 car, one of just three surviving examples, fitted with James Bond specifications as pictured in the film Goldfinger which will be offered for auction by RM Sotheby's, is shown in this photo provided June 12, 2019. Simon Clay © 2019 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY NO RESALES, NO ARCHIVE

The vehicle was commissioned by filmmaker Eon Productions and used at promotional events for "Thunderball" in the United States, the auction house said.

It includes 13 modifications created for Bond, including a Browning .30 caliber machine gun in each fender, tire slashers mounted on its wheel hubs and a bulletproof rear screen that can be raised and lowered.

RM Sotheby's said the Bond modifications had been "properly refurbished to function as originally built," and has had three private owners over 50 years.

An original Aston Martin DB5 car, one of just three surviving examples, fitted with James Bond specifications and gadgetry as pictured in the film Goldfinger which will be offered for auction by RM Sotheby's, is shown in this photo provided June 12, 2019. Simon Clay © 2019 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY NO RESALES, NO ARCHIVE

The auction will take place on Aug. 15 in Monterey, California.

(Reporting by Lisa Richwine, editing by G Crosse)

One of the interior control panels in the original Aston Martin DB5 car, one of just three surviving examples, fitted with James Bond specifications and gadgetry as pictured in the film Goldfinger which will be offered for auction by RM Sotheby's, is shown in this photo provided June 12, 2019. Simon Clay © 2019 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY NO RESALES, NO ARCHIVE

Detail of gun turret shown on the front fender of an original Aston Martin DB5 car, one of just three surviving examples, fitted with James Bond specifications as pictured in the film Goldfinger which will be offered for auction by RM Sotheby's, is shown in this photo provided June 12, 2019. Simon Clay © 2019 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY NO RESALES, NO ARCHIVE

Detail of a functioning "ram" shown on the rear bumper of an original Aston Martin DB5 car, one of just three surviving examples, fitted with James Bond specifications as pictured in the film Goldfinger which will be offered for auction by RM Sotheby's, is shown in this photo provided June 12, 2019. Simon Clay © 2019 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY NO RESALES, NO ARCHIVE