The Persuaders! playboy Lord Brett Sinclair's 1970 Bahama Yellow Aston Martin DBS sold for £533,000 or roughly $900,000 at the Aston Martin Works by Bonhams, setting the world record for a DBS sold at an auction.
Roger Moore, who played Lord Brett Sinclair's character, drove the flash-motor sports car in his adventures around Europe for the action adventure TV show, which ran from September 1971 to February 1972. The Persuaders! is the most expensive TV series ever filmed, with each of the 24 episodes racking up a £100,000 bill. Moore went on to star as James Bond in the 1973 film Live and Let Die.
The DBS, which was undoubtedly one of the three stars in the series, with Moore's Sinclair and Danny Wilde played by Moore's co-star Tony Curtis, was specially designed for its role in the series. For the Bonhams auction in Newport Pagnell, Buckingshire, however, Sinclair's DBS was modified to visually resemble the latest DBS V8 model, from the wheels, to the hubs and the badging. Under the hood, it has the same six-cylinder engine and an autograph both from Moore and Curtis inside the car trunk.
When The Persuaders! finished filming in 1972, the production team sent the DBS back to Aston Marks for servicing before it was sold to its first honor. Since then, the sports car has had five different owners but all through private sales and without advertising.
Last year, the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este invited the 1970 DBS to participate in its prestigious classic and vintage car competition held in Lake Como, Italy. Only 49 cars were featured in the event and only five Aston Martins participated. The sports car was also featured in several Aston Martin Centenary events in 2013.
This is the 15th year Bonhams has auctioned Aston Martin cars, with proceeds going up to £8.7 million in total, down 13% from last year's £10 million. The top-selling item was a DB6 Mark 2 Volante, which was sold off to the highest bidder for £757,000.
"We've had glorious weather, excellent hospitality, and some truly stunning motorcars starring in today's auction," says Bonhams motoring director James Knight. "The sale has been one of surprise and delight. From selling a DB5 Sports Saloon project at four times its estimate to selling world records with 'star' car, The Persuaders! Aston Martin DBS."
