Leominster-based auction house Brightwells will, later this month, sell Bruce Robinson's 1962 Aston Martin DB4 Convertible. Robinson wrote and directed the cult classic 1987 film ‘Withnail and I’, starring the British actors Richard E. Grant and Paul McGann.

The Englishman has owned the car - that appears briefly in the film - since 1981 and is philosophical about the sale:

"All the things I used to love about driving are all illegal nowadays. It's a ****ing nightmare really," he complained.

"The truth is I have no desire to cruise about in a status symbol. I just love the look and the oomph of the Aston.

"You drive to a restaurant and leave it outside in the road and then you realise it's probably worth more than the building - maybe more than the whole street in five years’ time, with the way the market's going.

"Besides which, I live on a farm down a long muddy track and I've just spent a fortune getting it restored. It seems heartless to get it up to its axles in mud."

The silver car - one of just 70 convertible DB4s - will be sold on October 22nd at Brightwells Classic Car Auction, Herefordshire. It has an estimate of £250,000 to £300,000.

For further details please contact James Dennison on +44 (0)1568 611122 or visit www.brightwells.com

Text: Steve Wakefield
Photos: Brightwells