Australia’s richest man, 39-year-old media and gambling baron James Packer, is reportedly heading up a consortium looking to purchase British marque Aston Martin for a cool £600 million.

Despite often seen whirring around the streets of Sydney in his DB9, and known as a keen anglophile after his recent purchase of a £15 million Mayfair apartment, the rumors have surprised financial analysts in his home country, and disgusted car lovers the world over.

Whatever’s going on, this could be the most frightening Aston move involving an Aussie since George Lazenby drove one around in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service…

Packer’s bid for Aston Martin [Sydney Morning Herald via Jalopnik]