World Record Set by £1.23 Million Aston Martin Newport Sale

At the thirteenth Bonhams Aston Martin sale in Newport Pagnell, Bucks, a world record was set where exclusive models favoured by the likes of Prince Charles, James Bong, rock stars and many others were featured.

The auction attracted a record crowd of around 2,000 bidders and enthusiasts who bid for their preferred Aston Martin vehicles.

Bloomberg reported that the sale was led by a DB4GT Zagato Sanction II Coupe formerly owned by Tony Smith, manager of the singer Phil Collins, which fetched £1.2 million with fees. Bonhams held its 13th annual sale at the UK automaker's factory in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire. In all, the auction fetched a staggering £6.5 million and is the best sale result for Bonhams since starting sales at Aston Martin's Works facility.

Tony Smith, a keen historic car racer, has over the years owned some of the world's greatest cars. The Aston passed to the current owner in Germany via Michael Brinkert and David Clark of Taylor & Crawley some 17 years ago. It was offered with only 4,748 miles showing on the odometer.

"With only four Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato Sanction IIs made, '0198/R' represented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire one of these fabulous cars, which will become increasingly collectible," James Knight International MD of Collectors Cars at Bonhams, said following the auction.

The second highest price in the sale was £611,900 for a 1962 Aston Martin DB4 Vantage Convertible from the estate of the late Peter Gwynn; the third highest price achieved was £488,700 for a 1963 Aston Martin DBS Convertible.

"This sale once again shows the steady rise of interest in Aston Martin cars that we have seen since we started these sales at Aston Martin Works," James Knight said in a statement.

Apart from this, a 1994 Aston Martin Virage Volante 6.3-Liter soft-top convertible once used by the Prince of Wales and described by Fast Lane Magazine as "the most aristocratic of convertibles", sold for £122,000, having been estimated to sell for £50,000 to £70,000.

A car once owned by world boxing champion Lennox Lewis, a 1994 Aston Martin Virage Limited Edition Coupe, sold for £18,290.