Christie’s London will host Sixty Years of James Bond, a two-part charity sale featuring 60 lots in total, from September 15 until James Bond Day on October 5. Of the 60 lots, 35 are dedicated to posters, props, costumes, memorabilia and experiences from the twenty-five films. The other 25 lots will be presented at a live auction in London on September 28. The stars of this Bond extravaganza will be the Defender, Range Rover and Jaguar stunt cars that feature in No Time To Die.
The JLR automobiles to be offered on September 28 are two Defenders, a Range Rover Sport SVR and a Jaguar XF. One of the Defenders is a 110 famed for its all-terrain stunt scenes in No Time To Die. Its sale will benefit the British Red Cross. This Defender has the unique VIN (vehicle identification number) 007. One of 10 Defenders used during filming, it was also used in promotional activity ahead of the film’s release.
The other Defender is a 110 V8 Bond Edition. It was created by SV Bespoke and inspired by the specification of the Defenders in No Time To Die. It is part of the 300-unit Bond Edition vehicles that were shipped worldwide, but this version has a unique ‘60 Years of Bond’ logo etched on the instrument panel end cap. This UK specification vehicle is fully road legal and will be sold to benefit conservation charity Tusk.
The Range Rover Sport SVR stunt car starred in a high-speed all-terrain chase and was one of six supplied for filming. The Jaguar XF is one of two that appeared in the film’s pre-credit sequence. It was chosen by the stunt team to perform as one of the chase cars that pursued James Bond (Daniel Craig) and Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux) through the narrow, twisting streets of Matera in southern Italy.
Nick Collins, JLR’s Executive Director of Vehicle Programmes, said: “Defender, Range Rover and Jaguar were in the thick of the action in No Time To Die. Each car represents a unique piece of James Bond history, which we’re sure collectors will be keen to own, and we are delighted to be able to support our charity partners through their sale. With such high demand for the Defender V8 Bond Edition, we are also hoping this special one-off version with the “60 years of Bond” logo will attract a keen buyer.”
Attendance at the live auction on September 28 is by invitation only to bid in person. However, fans and collectors worldwide can bid online via Christie’s Live, by telephone, or by leaving an absentee bid. As with the last three official Christie’s 007 auctions – which have raised over £4.8 million or around US$ 7 million – the proceeds from this sale will benefit charitable causes. The pre-sale highlights exhibition will be on public view at Christie’s headquarters from 15 to September 28.