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21 November 2020 |
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On Her Majesty's
Secret Service 1969 Mercury Cougar Convertible XR-7 offered
for the first time at auction
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The Bond Street Sale -
Important Collectors' Motor Cars • 16 December 2020 • London, New Bond
Street
Estimate £100,000 - £150,000
[Update 17 December 2020:
Sold for £356,500 inc. premium] |
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A 1969 Mercury Cougar XR7
convertible, which had a starring role in the classic James Bond film
On Her Majesty's Secret Service, will be offered for the first time at
auction, fittingly at the Bonhams Bond Street Sale on 16 December 2020,
following a nut and bolt restoration.
In the motion picture,
the Cougar was owned by ‘Bond Girl’ Contessa Teresa (Tracy) di Vicenzo
played by the late Dame Diana Rigg, and famously driven on ice in a
high-speed car chase scene. |
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The filmmakers EON
Productions procured three identical Cougars from Ford's luxury division
Mercury, for the film in 1969. Early research suggests that the example
offered was used in the ‘barn scene’ when James Bond, played by George
Lazenby in his only outing as 007, proposed to Tracy (Diana Rigg) as they
sheltered in the car from a blizzard.
The Cougar was built on 6 February 1969 as a special order and was
registered in the UK a week later. One of only 127 XR7 convertibles
powered by the desirable Jet Ram V8 engine built in 1969, this example was
finished with red paintwork, matching leather interior and steel wheels.
For its film role, it was also fitted with a rack for Kneissl skis – the
must have skis of the time – and red French temporary ‘visitor’
registration plates. |
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However, the Cougar was
in a far from red carpet condition when it was purchased by the vendor,
initially for its engine, from an advertisement in the classified
advertising magazine Exchange and Mart in the late 1980s. Upon
discovering the car's illustrious past, he embarked on a ‘nut and bolt’
restoration, bringing the Cougar up to concours standard over a 30-year
period.
Tim Schofield, Head of Department, Bonhams Motor Cars UK, said: “We're
delighted to offer this unique Cougar which is not only an important piece
of film history but also a stunning example of a 1960s muscle car. We are
sure it will leave the saleroom stirred if not shaken.” |
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ABOVE: (top left)
Call sheet for Tuesday April 8, 1969 supplied to cast and crew by
assistant director Frank Ernst (1918-1999). The call sheet shows
that George Lazenby and Diana Rigg filmed interiors shots in the
Mercury Cougar in the North Tunnel at Pinewood Studios. (top
right) Diana Rigg did much of her own driving during stock car
sequence filmed on a frozen car park in Lauterbrunnen,
Switzerland. (bottom right) The Mercury Cougar in action during
the stock car sequence. |
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ABOVE: (top left)
The Mercury Cougar in action in On Her Majesty's Secret Service
(1969) during the stock car sequence directed by Anthony Squire
(1914-2000). (top right) George Lazenby with co-star Diana Rigg in
the Mercury Cougar during the filming of the stock car sequence,
and (bottom) with stunt driver Erich Glavitza. |
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BONHAMS Press Release |
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007 MAGAZINE On
Her Majesty’s Secret Service 126-page Special Issue – the
Definitive edition!
Includes over 300 rare and never-before-seen images relating to
the film, many of them exclusive to the 007 MAGAZINE ARCHIVE. Price
£24.99 (plus p&p)
This issue is being offered with 3 different covers:
[A] Mr. & Mrs. James Bond (George Lazenby & Diana Rigg)
[B] Comtesse Teresa di Vicenzo (Diana Rigg)
[C] Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Telly Savalas)
(please note that the content inside the magazine is identical)
Pre-order now - This title will
ship during
January 2021 |
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