Dubai: British embassy guests submitted silent bids for an upcoming charity auction in London offering a rare one-off Aston Martin DB10 that starred in the latest James Bond movie, Spectre.
Black-tie guests at the British embassy were treated to a rare close look Wednesday evening at the DB10 driven by 007 in the spy-action flick.
The gala event was hosted by the embassy in coordination with Aston Martin for a special reception in order to recognise the British car manufacturer’s long association with Ian Fleming’s James Bond series. The actual auction, to be hosted by Christie’s auction house in London, will take place February 18.
According to Aston Martin, “proceeds from the sale will be donated to Médecins Sans Frontières, and considering the £1million-£1.5million (Dh5.2 million-Dh7.8million) estimate on the DB10, that’s a considerable donation”.
The car manufacturer said that ‘Spectre — the auction’ will coincide with the release of Spectre on DVD and Blu-ray, and will feature 24 lots up for grabs in total. Other sale highlights include the custom laptop used by Q (£4,000-£6,000 estimate), as well as the Omega Seamaster 300 watch worn by Daniel Craig in the film estimated to go for £15,000-£20,000.
Paul Fox, Consul General for Dubai and Northern Emirates, said he was pleased to be part of an evening celebrating the famous duo of Bond and his Aston Martin cars down through the decades.
“In the 1964 film it was a DB5,” Fox told the gathering. “It was famously modified with revolving number plates, machine guns in the winds and an ejector seat. I remember having the toy car as a child, and I lost the toy man [who] was ejected much to my distress.”
Neil Slade, regional director for Aston Martin in the Middle East, said the offer of the DB10 will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“The DB10 ... there were only 10 cars made and only for the film. And out of the 10, only one will be sold. The DB10 gives a view of the future of the car,” Slade told Gulf News. “The bidding process with Christies is about raising money for charity. This is a unique piece, the only one in the world.”
In October 2012 Dubai’s diplomatic set celebrated the premiere of the Bond film at the time — Skyfall — on the 50th anniversary of the iconic British secret agent at an invitation-only golden birthday party at the British Embassy in Dubai.
