Podcast: The Great James Bond Car Robbery

If you’re looking for a great podcast for your upcoming holiday travels, heading to work or if you’re joining me on our trip to Italy to visit Ferrari and Lamborghini, I highly recommend The Great James Bond Car Robbery podcast!  It’s hosted by actress, Elizabeth Hurley from movies such as Austin Powers.

The Podcast details how a gadget-filled 1964 Aston Martin DB5s featured in the James Bond films "Goldfinger" and "Thunderball" vanished from a hangar at Boca Raton airport in 1997.  A silver coupe vanished without a trace, leading some investigators to believe it may have been taken away by a cargo plane or even a small drug-running plane that quickly swooped in to pick it up.  The car had been purchased by Anthony Pugliese for $275,000 at auction in 1986, but was insured for $4 million at the time of the heist, which is roughly what the other car was auctioned for in 2010.

The podcast also features Chris Marinello, owner of Art Recovery International, which tracks down stolen goods for insurance companies and individuals, including some that had been looted by Nazis.  Marinello says that if the car ever turns up for auction, it could go for $15 million or more if it was built to promote "Thunderball." A third identical car, which didn't even appear on screen, sold for $6.4 million in 2019.

I actually did speak to Chris Marinello about working together on a Classic Car Database to help recover stolen classic cars and he mentioned that he believes the stolen Aston Martin is in Kuwait.  

 If you have any information that can help Marinello locate the "Goldfinger" DB5, he and his insurance company is offering $100,000 to anyone with information leading to the car's recovery!  

Here’s the link to the news article and the podcasts:

https://www.foxnews.com/auto/stolen-james-bond-goldfinger-aston-martin-middle-east

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-great-james-bond-car-robbery/id1580413419

https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/45e734e2-aa1d-40b9-86ea-40a2b01fe728/the-great-james-bond-car-robbery

For factory tours, racetrack adventures, museum tours, stops at the most sumptuous restaurants, and a breathlessly complete, luxurious experience of the Italian countryside — all through the lens of fellow car enthusiasts — Motorsport Labs is your go-to guide to take in not only this work of art but also works of art made by Pagani, Lamborghini, Ducati, and more. Our next travel tour to Italy September 1-8, 2022 for our Cradle of Supercars Adventure, which was promoted and featured in Sports Illustrated by the Italian Tourism Board. On our tour, you'll drive a Ferrari or Lamborghini, visit super car factories and museums like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Pagani, Ducati and, Imola racetrack, tour historic towns, and participate in Italian cooking and culinary experiences. We also have a day to Florence, Italy included, if you need to take a break from all the speed, brake dust and screeching tires! Save $800 when you travel with a friend!

Ray Chang