In photos: Rare Aston Martin owned by Spartacus actor expected to fetch $1.85-million
A 1962 Aston Martin bought by actor Peter Ustinov following his Oscar win as Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of slave trader Lentulus Batiatus in Spartacus is expected to fetch at least $1.85-million at auction. The rare Aston Martin DB4 Series IV Vantage Convertible originally cost about $7,400 and was delivered to Ustinov at his hotel in Switzerland. Featuring left-hand drive with a more powerful "Special Series" (Vantage) engine, it is one of only nine made and will go under the hammer at Bonhams annual Aston Martin Works event on May 9. More than 25 per cent of the Aston Martins up for auction will be left-hand-drive. "This year's sale features a selection of significantly rare left-hand drive Aston Martins from the David Brown era," said Bonhams spokesman Tim Schofield in a press release. "At the time, only a small number of left-hand drive models were produced by the luxury marque, making the models incredibly rare. This year's sale - in which more than a quarter of cars are left-hand drive - is very unusual indeed." Brown, an English entrepreneur, owned Aston Martin from 1947 to 1972. In total, more than 50 cars and 170 lots of "automobilia" will be on sale, according to Bonhams. Ustinov, a two-time Academy Award winning actor, writer and diplomat, died in 2004.
Peter Ustinov behind the wheel of his new DB4.