Peter Sellers' 1961 Aston Martin DB4GT

Peter Sellers built his career as one of the finest actors of a generation between roles as varied as that of Inspector Jacques Clouseau in the Pink Panther films to Chance in Being There. One of the fastest GTs of the era, this 1961 Aston Martin DB4GT was driven by Sellers in his role as Pearly Gates in the film The Wrong Arm of the Law. The scene has gates driving the Aston as a getaway car in a high-speed chase through Uxbridge Moor with a police car hot on his tail. Sellers drove the car in the hero shots, with Aston dealer Ken Rudd performing the fast driving. Rudd provided the car for the shoot, which was a demonstrator equipped with rare features like occasional back seats and aluminum bezels around the headlights. The original 3.7-liter inline-six was damaged during filming, with a 4-liter replacement fitted by Aston, making it one of very few fitted with the larger motor by the factory. Sellers would go on to purchase the car in late 1961 or early 1962. The car will go to auction at Goodwood in July 2023.

Photos: Bonhams