A rare sports car which once belonged to the writer Ian Fleming who is famed for creating the character of James Bond, sold for £80,000 when it went under the hammer at Bonham’s auction in West Sussex last Friday.

There was a great deal of interest in the vintage car, and not just because of its connection with the author Ian Fleming. The 1962 AC Aceca Coupe is one of only 6 surviving ford powered Aceca cars in the world, and so many motoring enthusiasts were keen to get their hands on the rare item.

The eye-catching sports car was bought from new by the author and was delivered directly to Fleming from the Thames Ditton Factory in 1962. The midnight blue convertible also features red leather upholstery adding a touch of 60’s glamour to the luxurious ride.

Fleming bought the top of the range sports car at the peak of his writing career, the same year in which his novel The Spy Who Loved Me, was published.

Another vehicle with a famous former owner which went under the hammer at last week’s auction was a 1988 Jaguar convertible once owned by the Duchess of York. The sporty number sold for £23,000 at the Bonham’s sale.