Sir Peter Ustinov's 1962 Aston Martin DB4 series IV Vantage convertible has sold for £1.5m ($2.3m) at Bonhams.

The car proved the lead lot of an Aston Martin sale at the company's headquarters in Newport Pagnell.

Peter Ustinov's DB4 Vantage convertible headlined a sale at Bonhams

Ustinov, who died in 2004, was a much-loved British writer and actor.

The auction realised an impressive £10.3m ($15.9m) worth of sales, a new record for Bonhams' annual Aston Martin extravaganza.  

A spokesperson for Bonhams commented: "As pioneers of the single-marque sale, we've returned to the Works Service here in Newport Pagnell for another great auction, exceeding all previous year's totals, with £10.3 million of motor cars sold.

"The quintessentially British marque of Aston Martin attracts interest from enthusiasts across the world, a fact demonstrated here today as we took bids from all corners of the globe…

"The market demonstrated that there is a ready appetite for exceptional examples, even for models that had previously been regarded as not particularly fashionable. The result we achieved for a Virage Coupe illustrated this with £74,300 realised for the stunning 1990 model."

A 1966 DB5 Vantage convertible sold for £1.5m ($2.3m).

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