The 1969 Mercury Cougar XR7 convertible featured in the James Bond movie On Her Majesty’s Secret Service sold for a record $483,088 as Bonhams Bond Street Sale of motor cars in London this week.
Bonhams said the sale price of £356,500 not only was an auction record for a Mercury Cougar but was twice the car’s pre-sale estimated value. Ah, 007 works its magic yet again!
In the movie, in which George Lazenby plays the role of James Bond, the car is owned by “Bond Girl” Diana Rigg, playing the role of Contessa Teresa “Tracy” di Vicenzo.
Three such Cougars were used in the filming for the 1969 movie, and the car offered at the auction was used in the “barn scene.”
The Cougar was one of only 127 XR7 convertibles produced with the Cobra Jet 428 engine, and the consignor originally bought the car not because of its movie provenance but to get access to its high-performance V8. After discovering the car’s history, he did a 30-year, concours-quality restoration.
The Bond Street catalog included 20 vehicles but only 7 of them were hammered sold at the auction. A 1937 Atalanta roadster sold for $389,587, a 1959 Ferrari 250 GT Series II coupe brought $311,669, a 1924 Vauxhall 30-98 OE-type Velox tourer went for $202,585, and a 1953 Alvis TC21 cabriolet sold for $187,001.
The auction also included assorted pieces of automobilia, with the top sale of $39,297 paid for a 9-carat gold model of the Concorde aircraft. Also selling was an original On Her Majesty’s Secret Service movie poster that brought $8,638, four times its pre-sale estimate.
To see all results, visit the Bonhams website.
Bonhams’ next collector car sale is scheduled for January 21, 2021, at Scottsdale, Arizona, where most of what usually comprises Arizona Auction Week is being canceled or postponed.
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Great always enjoy