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Aston Martin DB5: World's most famous Bond car to fetch up to $6m

A car dubbed the world's most famous will be up for auction later this year, it has been announced.

This particular 1965 Aston Martin DB5 was ordered by Eon Productions, the company behind Bond films Goldfinger and Thunderball.

It was not used in the films but for promotional events for Thunderball in the US. It was sold in 1969 after the film company had finished with it.

The car was most recently sold in 2006 for just over $2m (£1.6m).

It had not been restored then so is expected to fetch between $4m (£3.1m) and $6m (£4.7m) when it is auctioned in California on 15 August.

There is a Browning .30 calibre machine gun in each fender, tyre slashers on its wheel hubs and a bulletproof rear screen.

This car's gadgets were designed and built to function repeatedly on command, as they do today, the auctioneer says.

The vehicle has had only three owners in the past 50 years, they added.

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Barney Ruprecht, car specialist at RM Sotheby's, said: "No other car in history has played a more important leading role on film and in pop culture than the Aston Martin DB5.

"The DB5 is the iconic cornerstone of a marketing relationship that still exists to this day-with the model's collectable status rooted largely in its 007 fame-and we look forward to exciting car and film enthusiasts alike in the lead up to the auction.

"This is an unbelievably rare chance to play secret agent in a car that offers incredible performance and style in its own right and we're honoured to offer the Bond DB5 alongside our partners at Aston Martin."