Roll Like Inspector Clouseau In Peter Sellers’ Classic Aston DB4GT

Aston Martin has made some timeless classics over the years. But few can hold a candle to the DB4GT. No wonder the automaker recently put it back into production. But if you missed out on your chance to get one of the “new” continuation examples, this one could be just the ticket. And its celebrity provenance could make it even more tempting.

Chassis number 0157/R starred in the 1963 comedy The Wrong Arm of the Law. Leading actor Peter Sellers evidently liked driving it during the filming. So he bought it once they were done.

Known particularly for playing Chief Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther films, Sellers had the factory re-fit the car with the 4.0-liter straight-six from the Lagonda Rapide. But the timelessly elegant bodywork, though repainted several times, was left untouched. It did undergo a comprehensive restoration, though, in 1999. It featured in the November 2003 issue of Octane magazine, and has remained in the current owner’s hands since 2004.

One of only 75 original examples made, the Sellers DB4GT is the first lot consigned to RM Sotheby’s for its upcoming London sale. The auction is set to take place on September 5 at Battersea Evolution in the British capital.

“This is an historic car that simply can’t be missed. Not only is a DB4GT one of the most desirable grand touring cars of the 1960s, but it’s fitting that this particular Aston Martin, with its close ties to British cinema, should become one of our headline lots at this year’s London sale,” said RM Sotheby’s specialist Felix Archer. “Peter Sellers’ love of cars was undeniable—he’d owned 83 by the age of 39—and he’s been long linked with the Aston Martin brand. In addition to its on-screen past, the car is offered in stunning condition, and is a product of a glorious age of iconic British car manufacturing.”

Photos by Tim Scott, courtesy of RM Sotheby’s