Sean Connery’s Suave Car Collection

Sean Connery’s Suave Car Collection

Sean Connery’s refined taste extended beyond the screen to a car collection filled with rare classics and timeless British elegance.

By Simon Boseman

Published Apr 24, 2025

Sean Connery’s Suave Car Collection

Table of Contents

  • 1960s Jaguar E-Type
  • 1960s Jensen CV8
  • 1986 BMW E24 635CSi 
  • 1964 Aston Martin DB5 
  • Special Mention

Discover Sean Connery’s car collection, including his iconic 1964 Aston Martin DB5 and rare classics like the 1960s Jaguar E-Type and early 1960s Jensen CV8. Explore how the James Bond legend’s automotive taste reflected his legendary persona.

Each car was chosen for its blend of performance and classic design, echoing Connery’s own enduring appeal. Valued at over $1.6 million, his collection wasn't about quantity—it was about character. According to a study by MoneyBarn, Sean Connery had the flashiest car collection among all James Bond actors. The 2nd and 3rd places are held by Daniel Craig and Pierce Brosnan. The story of his cars is also the story of his legacy: precise, timeless, and undeniably cool.


4. 1960s Jaguar E-Type

The Jaguar E-Type was sleek and elongated, with smooth curves and an unmistakably elegant profile. Connery’s version was reportedly finished in classic British Racing Green, with a tan leather interior; refined but sporty, much like the man himself.
Connery added this car to his personal collection after his rise to fame, during a period when his image as Bond was becoming inseparable from the world of fast, stylish automobiles. It was never featured on screen, but it certainly belonged in the garage of a man who made driving cool.

The E-Type was almost Connery’s Bond car in Goldfinger. Producers considered it before ultimately choosing the Aston Martin DB5, feeling it better fit the spy’s gadget-ready persona. Still, Connery remained fond of the E-Type and acquired one for himself. The Jaguar E-type was featured in the movie Woman of Straw. Other celebrities who own this car include Harry Styles.


3. 1960s Jensen CV8

The Jensen CV8 had a distinctive look—bold front grille, sloped lines, and a fiberglass body that stood out from the era’s more traditional designs. The interior was refined with leather seats and wood veneer, offering a grand touring experience suited to someone with a growing reputation.

Connery bought this car second-hand in the early 1960s, shortly after landing his breakout role as James Bond. At the time, he wasn’t yet driving around in the new cars of the rich and famous, but he still opted for something powerful, rare, and uniquely British.

This car is perhaps the most reflective of Connery’s early success. It wasn’t flashy—it was personal. Friends recall that he was proud of the Jensen because it was distinctive without being ostentatious. He reportedly did much of the driving himself, even during press tours. The car was later sold privately, and unlike the DB5, it didn’t get restored for public auction or display, adding a touch of mystery to its current whereabouts.


2. 1986 BMW E24 635CSi 

Connery’s BMW was finished in Alpine White, with a clean, understated silhouette. Inside, the car was equipped with plush leather seating and a dark-toned dashboard, giving it a modern, executive feel typical of luxury cars from the 1980s.

The BMW was reportedly kept at Connery’s home in Marbella, Spain. It was a later addition to his collection, acquired during his semi-retirement years when he was spending more time away from Hollywood and enjoying life in the Mediterranean. In 2021, it was auctioned for $56,892 on The Market.


1. 1964 Aston Martin DB5 

The Aston Martin DB5 is inseparable from both James Bond and Sean Connery. Introduced in Goldfinger (1964), it became one of the most famous film cars in history. Though he made the DB5 famous on screen, Connery didn’t actually own one until 2018, when he finally purchased a model of his own. It was something of a full-circle moment—Decades after becoming synonymous with the car, he decided it was time to bring one home. The DB5 is also a part of the Sultan of Brunei's impressive Aston Martin collection.

What made this car especially meaningful was what happened after Connery passed away. The DB5 was auctioned in 2022 for $2.4 million, with proceeds going to charity through the Sean Connery Foundation. It was meticulously restored by RS Williams, a UK-based Aston Martin specialist, and included a plaque signed by Connery himself. His son, Jason Connery, shared that the car was one of his father’s most cherished possessions. This wasn’t just another classic—it was a personal symbol of legacy, both cinematic and real.


Special Mention

While Connery owned an impressive collection, he also made several cars iconic through his Bond films. Some of the most notable include:

  • Sunbeam Alpine Series II (Dr. No, 1962)
    The very first car James Bond drove on screen wasn’t a high-tech Aston Martin—it was a humble, powder-blue Sunbeam Alpine. In Dr. No (1962), Sean Connery’s Bond takes this two-seater for a scenic spin through the Jamaican countryside. The car was actually borrowed from a local resident during filming, as the production didn’t have the budget for a flashier ride. There were no gadgets, no modifications—just Connery, a narrow mountain road, and the quiet confidence of the very first Bond car chase. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was a start, setting the tone for what would become one of the most iconic parts of the Bond franchise.
  • Ford Galaxie 500 (Goldfinger, 1964)

    Though Bond didn’t drive it, the Ford Galaxie 500 had a notable moment in Goldfinger (1964). The car was used by Goldfinger’s henchmen to transport Bond—Connery in peak form, cool and calculating, before meeting a rather explosive end. The Galaxie was a standard American sedan, chosen more for its availability and size than flair. But in the hands of the film’s stunt team and Connery’s presence in the back seat, it became part of one of Bond’s most memorable early sequences. Its inclusion also reflected the growing appeal of the franchise in the U.S., making American cars a regular sight in subsequent Bond films.

  • Toyota 2000GT Roadster (You Only Live Twice, 1967)

    In You Only Live Twice (1967), Connery is chauffeured through Tokyo in one of the rarest Bond cars ever: the Toyota 2000GT. Originally a coupe, Toyota modified two prototypes into roadsters specifically for the film, because at 6’2”, Connery simply couldn’t fit inside with the roof on. This detail alone makes the car legendary. Sleek and futuristic, the 2000GT was Japan’s answer to European sports cars, and its appearance alongside Bond helped raise the country’s automotive profile globally. The film’s custom-built convertible versions are now priceless, and they owe their very existence to Connery’s height, turning a design challenge into an iconic moment in Bond car history.

  • Ford Mustang Mach 1 (Diamonds Are Forever, 1971)

    One of the more stylish chases in Connery’s Bond run took place in a red 1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1. In Diamonds Are Forever, Bond tears through the streets of Las Vegas in this muscular American car, dodging police in a now-famous alley stunt—balancing on two wheels to squeeze through a narrow passage. The sequence became a fan favorite, though it’s also known for a humorous continuity error where the car inexplicably switches sides mid-stunt. Still, the Mach 1 left its mark. Connery’s Bond was always more associated with British cars, but this moment showed he could handle American muscle just as well.


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FAQs

How much did Sean Connery's Aston Martin sell for?

Sean Connery’s DB5 sold for $2,425,000 at an auction during Monterey Auto Week back in 2022.

Where are the James Bond cars kept?

The original vehicles from the James Bond films are on display at the world-renowned Petersen Automotive Museum in LA.

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