Bond DB5 under the hammer

JAMES Bond’s original 1964 Aston Martin DB5, which starred in the Thunderball and Goldfinger movies, is up for auction.

The car is being auctioned by RM Auctions in Arizona in January. It is the first time it has been offered for sale in 35 years and the auction house believes will fetch between $US400,000 ($A544,000) and $US500,000 ($A680,000).

The Aston is one of four built for the movies and sports all the Bond accoutrements, from the wheel-mounted tyre slashers to the retractable rear bulletproof screen.

It is one of several celebrity cars being offered. Another is a bulletproof 1928 Cadillac Town Sedan used by notorious gangster Al Capone.