A stolen Aston Martin which was used on the set for the James Bond film Goldfinger almost 25 years ago, has been found. The car is said to be worth around $25 million.
This vehicle was bought by a private collector in the mid 1980s. It was also stolen from a secure Florida hangar in 1997.
The Telegraph reported that the DB5 was found by Art Recovery International, a group which specialises in finding high end items. They also reported that the vehicle was verfied through its serial number by an unnamed person.
The report also said that the Aston Martin was found in a “private setting” in the Middle East. Places like Kuwait, Dubai, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain were marked as “particular areas of interest”.
Aston Martins have become the popular car of choice in the Bond 007 films. The first one from this model, featured in Goldfinger in 1964. It also featured in other Bond films, except for the ones starring Roger Moore.
The DB5 was also brought back for Skyfall and No Time To Die. The model was championed by Sean Connery who played the famous spy from 1962 to 1967 and from 1971 to 1983.
Aston Martin and other “stolen and looted objects”
Chief Executive of the Art Recovery Project Christopher Marinello said that he is hopeful the car will be recovered soon. He also hopes that the person found in possession of this vehicle will “do the right thing”.
“I’m hopeful that the possessor will come forward voluntarily before I have to make an announcement”, Marinello said.
He continued, “It’s my policy to give possessors of stolen and looted objects every opportunity to do the right thing”.
“I don’t believe the current possessor knew the car was stolen when he or she acquired it. Now they do know, I think they should make every effort to have a discreet confidential discussion about how we clear the title to this iconic vehicle”.
The Aston Martin was owned by American businessman Anthony Pugliese when it was stolen. Some had even accused him of arranging for the car to be stolen as part of an insurance scam. Pugilese has always denied this allegations.
He bought the Aston Martin for $275,000 at Sotheby’s, New York back in 1986. The insurance company paid out $4.2 million. They are also offering a $100,000 reward in exchange for information leading to the car’s safe return.
