At first glance, it might not have much in common with James Bond’s famous Aston Martin.
But this rusty old banger shares an important feature with 007’s most famous car: it too was driven by Sir Sean Connery.
A white Mercedes saloon that once belonged to the star has now gone on sale – and is already attracting global interest from fans of the legendary Scotsman.
Euphemistically described as a ‘restoration project’, the 45-year-old vehicle currently has very little of the glamor associated with a Bond car – as the paintwork is chipped and dirty, there is rust along the wheel arches and the roof, upholstery is stained and the rear bumper is hanging down.
Likewise, it doesn’t have any of the ejection seats, rocket launchers or other high-tech gimmicks associated with the superspy – although it does have an automatic gearbox, air conditioning and a DVD player. tape player.
Old banger: Paul Wiggington with the white Mercedes sedan formerly owned by Connery
Sean Connery, left, with Ursula Andress, gave the car to his brother
The main attraction of the vehicle, however, is the impeccably documented connection to one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.
By the late 1970s Connery, from Edinburgh, had become one of the world’s most famous actors after starring in six Bond films – Dr No, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice and Diamonds Are Forever – as well as other blockbusters including Murder On The Orient Express, The Man Who Would Be King and A Bridge Too Far.
A letter to the Scotsman, who was living in Malaga, Spain at the time, reveals that he purchased the 300SD model directly from the manufacturer in 1978.
Donna Noble, the company’s global sales coordinator, wrote: “We appreciate this opportunity to assist you and thank you for your sponsorship of Mercedes-Benz.”
Vehicle registration papers confirm that in 1983 – the same year he reprized the role of Bond in Never Say Never Again – Connery, who listed his address as Montpelier St in London, registered the car with the DVLA for use in the UK.
In 1988, the actor then donated the used vehicle to his brother. A letter signed by the Scotsman and dated October 1988 confirms that the “white Mercedes 300 Saloon number BRK 862Y” is “a gift to my brother Neil”.
For years Neil drove the car around Edinburgh – and won the admiration of neighbors who knew of its showbiz provenance.
In 2013, one of Neil’s friends, Kevin Wiggington, bought the car from him, after he noticed it unused in his driveway.
By then the car was no longer running and was placed in a garage for storage – where it remained for the next decade.
Following Mr Wiggington’s death, the car is now being marketed by his son Paul, an airline pilot who lives in Cramond on the outskirts of Edinburgh.
Document from the late Sir Sean Connery showing he gifted a white Mercedes to his brother Neil
The car has an automatic gearbox, air conditioning and a radio-cassette player
The 45-year-old vehicle currently has very little glamor associated with a Bond car
Mr Wiggington, 34, said: “In 1978 it was a really beautiful car, with a powerful engine and a luxurious interior – exactly what you would expect from a movie star like Sir Sean.
“When my father bought it, it no longer worked. Dad put it in a garage for safekeeping and planned to restore it, but it was a huge project and he never got the chance to complete it.
“I have no idea what it’s worth… But it’s not really about making money, more about doing something with the car, for him.”
“It’s a piece of history, a collector’s item. This is a car that has only ever been driven by a Connery – either Sir Sean or his brother Neil.
Although it was only recently listed on the Ebay shopping site, the car has already attracted comments from Bond fans and interest from around the world.
In his role as Bond, Connery traveled through some of the world’s most exotic locations in a series of glamorous cars.
In the first 007 movie, Dr No, he raced around Jamaica in a blue Sunbeam Alpine convertible.
In Diamonds Are Forever, the spy was chased through the streets of Las Vegas in a bright red Mustang Mach I.
However, Bond’s most instantly recognizable vehicles remain the gadget-laden Aston Martin DB5s he drove in Goldfinger and Thunderball – with
rotating license plate, bulletproof windshield, machine guns, anti-oil and anti-smoke devices, plus passenger side ejection seat.
