The James Bond Aston Martin looted in a Florida airport heist is valued at up to $27m.
Investigators are examining new 'intelligence' related to the whereabouts of the iconic $27m Goldfinger Aston Martin DB5 that disappeared in a 1997 heist in Florida. It is believed to be parked in the Middle East.
"We have reached out to law enforcement who have been incredibly supportive," art sleuth Christopher A. Marinello told SPYSCAPE exclusively. "We shared some recent intelligence which is being fully investigated."
Marinello declined to comment further. He previously told SPYSCAPE that the Silver Birch Aston Martin driven by James Bond (Sean Connery) in the 1964 film had been identified in the Middle East by its original Chassis identification number DP216/1 and that it may be part of a multi-thousand vehicle collection owned by a car connoisseur.
Marinello has been tracking the stolen DB5 - the one with 007's ejector seat - for more than a decade.
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The James Bond Aston Martin looted in a Florida airport heist is valued at up to $27m.
Investigators are examining new 'intelligence' related to the whereabouts of the iconic $27m Goldfinger Aston Martin DB5 that disappeared in a 1997 heist in Florida. It is believed to be parked in the Middle East.
"We have reached out to law enforcement who have been incredibly supportive," art sleuth Christopher A. Marinello told SPYSCAPE exclusively. "We shared some recent intelligence which is being fully investigated."
Marinello declined to comment further. He previously told SPYSCAPE that the Silver Birch Aston Martin driven by James Bond (Sean Connery) in the 1964 film had been identified in the Middle East by its original Chassis identification number DP216/1 and that it may be part of a multi-thousand vehicle collection owned by a car connoisseur.
Marinello has been tracking the stolen DB5 - the one with 007's ejector seat - for more than a decade.
While an eyewitness said the car still has its original Chassis Identification Number, the person initially couldn’t supply photo or video evidence to back up the sighting, leaving Marinello unable to open a negotiation. It is unclear if that evidence has now been obtained.
“The person who has the car knows of my interest but has no interest in coming forward,” Marinello previously told SPYSCAPE.
Search for the stolen Goldfinger DB5 focused on Middle East
Marinello focused his search on Brunei and Kuwait after hearing ‘chatter’ that the Aston Martin DB5 may have been temporarily moved between wealthy collectors, but he's also broadened the investigation to include Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.
Bond fans are paying close attention to the mysterious heist - the focus ofThe Great James Bond Car Robbery podcast hosted by Elizabeth Hurley - because Marinello’s client, the DB5’s insurance company, is offering a $100,000 reward for intel leading to its return.
The DB5 airport heist
The theft is worthy of a Bond plot: the Goldfinger DB5 - the one with the ejector seat and smoke bombs - disappeared from a Florida airport hangar in June 1997 and hasn’t been seen since, at least not in public.
Investigators have been grappling with intriguing questions. How was the robbery staged? Why weren’t the alarms triggered? And did a team of professional thieves really fly a plane loaded with the world’s most famous car into the Florida sky without attracting attention?
Despite the slow progress, Marinello hasn't given up. The more pressure he applies, the more likely it is that the DB5’s new ‘owner’ will agree to discrete talks or write a check to compensate the insurance company.
Retrieving the car may be unlikely at this point, however. The Goldfinger DB5 was insured for upward of $4m but it’s now valued at between £12m and £20m ($16m and $27m), possibly even more.
“We’re seeing crazy prices for anything that has had screen time, plus high-end Astons and Ferraris - and this car has both. It’s a high-end Aston, a desirable model, the right color, and it's the most famous car in the world,” Marinello said.
Pierce Brosnan, star of GoldenEye (1995), with his Aston Martin DB5
It’s not just Bond’s Goldfinger DB5 that’s rocketing in value. The iconic 1965 Aston Martin DB5 from GoldenEye was famously raced by Pierce Brosnan in his 007 debut, taking on a Ferrari 355 piloted by villainess Xenia Onatopp (Famke Janssen) in the mountain roads above Monaco.
The GoldenEye DB5
While the GoldenEye DB5 sold for £2m ($2.6m) in 2018, Marinello has estimated it is now worth between $6.75m to $13.5m because of its starry onscreen legend and pristine condition.
“It was an incredible purchase,” Marinello said. “It’s in perfect condition. It had the most incredible on-screen chase scene. It’s got gadgets. It’s even got an ice-box for Bollinger champagne!”
James Bond’s GoldenEye Aston Martin DB5 at the SPYSCAPE New York HQ
GoldenEye DB5 at SPYSCAPE New York HQ
The GoldenEye DB5 is on display at the SPYSCAPE New York HQ.
For now, however, Marinello's eye is on tracking down the Goldfinger DB5 and possibly even celebrating with a joy ride.
"I am determined to recover this car and even get a ride in it. Let's just hope it’s in the passenger seat and not the trunk."
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