Could Bond’s prototype DB5 be still alive?

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Is there really a major breakthrough in one of the world’s most controversial classic car thefts? Or is Christopher A Marinello, chief executive of Art Recovery International just adding more to the mystery and intrigue of the Goldfinger DB5?

What’s the story? As many of you will know the Aston Martin DB5 made its debut in Goldfinger and has been the ultimate Bond car ever since. But the so-called ‘effects car’ used in Goldfinger was more than just that. This was an original DB5 prototype, based on a late DB4 which was specifically rebuilt for the film. Its chassis number DP/261/1 underlines with ‘DP’ for Development Project. The famous registration number ‘BMT 216A’ was issued on 1 May 1963. At the time, the colour was Dubonnet Red with a grey interior. After completing some necessary testing, Aston Martin decided to use the car for PR activities and, in January 1964, the DB5 was on screen for the first time: in an episode of ‘The Saint’.

But it wasn’t until one year later that the DB5 started its second life in the hands of Sean Connery and we all know where that led to. Aston Martin sold the car in 1968 and it has been in various private collections ever since. The car made $ 275,000 when it was sold for the third time in 1986. Its new owner became the controversial American businessman and collector Anthony V. Pugliese III who regularly displayed the car at shows. It all came to an end in the night of 18-19 June 1997. The car disappeared from a hangar at Boca Raton Airport, Florida. The alarm wires had been severed and skid marks suggested that the Aston was loaded onto an airplane. Checking out all the flights to and from the airport resulted in no proof whatsoever.

It became soon known that Pugliese had just insured the car for the astronomical sum of $4.2 million. Could he have arranged for the Aston Martin to get stolen and dumped into the ocean off the coast of Florida from an airplane? This could all have been part of a plan to get hold of the insurance premiums. Years of investigations, quarrels and lawsuits followed. In the end, the insurance company paid out on the policy. The car has never been seen since – despite vigorous attempts of Bond fans and other interested parties. The question remains: what happened to the car during that fatal summer night back in 1997?

Enter Christopher A Marinello of Art Recovery International, who says he found out a lead to the car in the Middle East. He said: ‘I have been given a specific tip, but we are working on it. We want to reach out to the collector car community and a vast array of mechanics to let them know we are very serious about recovering it. As there are many Aston Martins, it is very important that we get a shot of the chassis number, DP/216/1. This is what we are looking for, as it is very specific to the vehicle. It is quite possible the potential in the Middle East is a mere lookalike, which is why it is crucial we retain a close-up of the chassis number.’ What do we think..?

(Words editor, picture Commander’s Club through Cnet.com)

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