At Bonhams auction on July 2, during the Goodwood Festival of Speed, a celebrated UK racing event held annually on the Earl of March's estate in West Sussex, a world record price was earned at £551,500 (€656,983) for a 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Vantage convertible, one of only nine ever produced.

"There is plenty of money around looking for collector cars," says Bonham motoring specialist Rob Hubbard. "There is demand across the board, beginning with tremendous growth in cars pre-1905. But the popularity of Aston Martin is exceptional."