Famous Goldfinger number plate comes up for sale

The plate ‘AU 1’ was used on Goldfinger’s car in the famous James Bond film

A famous number plate that adorned the Rolls-Royce used in the James Bond film Goldfinger is going up for sale.

While the 1964 James Bond film might be best known for the iconic Aston Martin DB5, another famous car shared the silver screen – a 1939 Rolls-Royce Phantom III painted in a distinctive yellow and black finish.

This car – used by the villain Auric Goldfinger who was played by Gert Fröbe in the hit film – wore the number plate ‘AU 1’, with ‘AU’ being the chemical symbol of gold.

It’s this number plate that is now up for sale by Primo Registrations, which is expected to sell for ‘in excess of £300,000’, and is described as a ‘unique investment opportunity’.

Aston Martin Parts — The Aston Martin DB5 is another famous automotive star in Goldfinger. (Max Earey/Aston Martin)

Peter Johnson, managing director of Primo Registrations, said: “As iconic number plates go, this one has to be right up there with one of the best, not least of all because of the plate’s association with the famed car used by Goldfinger and Oddjob to smuggle gold out of the country.

“It’s also nothing new that short number plates are fast becoming increasingly popular, not only because of their aesthetically pleasing stature on any vehicle but because of their investment potential, too.”

Sixty Years of James Bond auction – Christie’s London — James Bond producer Michael G. Wilson arrives in the Goldfinger Rolls-Royce Phantom III for the Sixty Years of James Bond auction at Christie’s auction house in central London. Picture date: Wednesday September 28, 2022. (Suzan Moore/PA Archive)

The number plate ‘AU 1’ was last sold by the same dealer back in 2013, and is currently registered to a 1937 Rolls-Royce (not pictured), according to data from the DVLA.

Johnson added: The last time ‘AU 1’ sold, it realised a huge return on investment for its then-owner, and we anticipate the trend will only continue, especially with shorter plates. We can’t wait to see where this one will go in the future – maybe it’ll go onto another Rolls-Royce”