James Bond's DB5 sold for R32.2m

London - An American businessman bought James Bond's 1964 Aston Martin DB5 for 2.9 million pounds at an auction in London on Wednesday.

The car driven by Sean Connery in his portrayal of the suave but lethal British secret agent in the "Goldfinger" and "Thunderball" Bond films sold for less than its 3.5 million pound pre-sale estimate to businessman Harry Yeaggy, auctioneers RM Auctions said in a statement after the sale.

"This is a car that I've always wanted, after all it is the most famous car in the world," Yeaggy said in the statement. "My plan is to display it in my private car museum in Ohio just as it is."

Yeaggy is only the second ex-factory owner of the distinctive silver car. Seller Jerry Lee, an American radio broadcaster based in Philadelphia, bought the car direct from the Aston Martin Lagonda factory for $12 000 in 1969. It is one of two, but the sole remaining, of the original "007" DB5's that appeared on screen with Connery behind the wheel in 'Goldfinger' and 'Thunderball'.

The model was sold complete with its "Q-Branch" gadgets including machine-guns, bullet-proof shield, revolving number plates, tracking device, removable roof panel, oil sprayer, nail spreader and smoke screen. Several of the gadgets are fully operational, although the machine-guns are not real.

Lee plans to use the proceeds from the sale for charity.

In addition to the car, Yeaggy receives an exclusive seven-night stay for 10 guests at the new GoldenEye Resort in Jamaica - Bond author Ian Fleming's Caribbean estate - and a gold-thread suit from Savile Row tailors Gieves & Hawkes