As some of you might know, the Aston Martin DB5 is dubbed as “the most famous car in the world” and is also among the most desirable and sought-after classics. Although the fame was bestowed upon by Her Majesty’s fictional secret service agent, the majestic looks of the car itself made it famous.
Either way, Aston Martin and EON Productions teamed up in 2018 to produce DB5 Goldfinger Continuation cars with a suite of working gadgets, first seen on screen in the 1964 film ‘Goldfinger’. The production has resumed at the brand’s Newport Pagnell factory.
The aforementioned gadgets are developed in association with Oscar-winning special effects guru Chris Corbould, who has worked on more than a dozen Bond films.
The Bond-inspired gadgets include a rear smoke screen delivery system, rear simulated oil slick delivery system, revolving number plates front and rear (triple plates), simulated twin front machine guns, bullet resistant rear shield, battering rams front and rear, simulated tyre slasher, and an optional removable passenger seat roof panel.
The gadgets inside include a simulated radar screen tracker map, a telephone in the driver’s door, gear knob actuator button, armrest and centre console-mounted switchgear, under-seat hidden weapons storage tray, and remote control for gadget activation.
The cars feature original DB5-styled aluminium exterior body panels wrapped around a mild steel chassis structure. Under the bonnet, there’s a 4.0-litre naturally aspirated in-line six-cylinder engine with a six-plug head, three SU carburettors and oil cooler, capable of generating about 290 bhp. The engine is paired with a ZF 5-speed manual transmission that drives the rear wheels. There’s also a mechanical limited slip differential.
Servo-assisted hydraulic Girling-type steel disc brakes, rack and pinion steering – which does not feature assistance – and a suspension set-up comprising coil over spring and damper units with anti-roll bar at the front, and a live axle rear suspension with radius arms and Watt’s linkage, complete the dynamic package.
Apparently, each car takes about 4,500 hours to build. Only 25 units will be built for the customers with each costing £2.75m plus taxes. A further 3 cars will be built – one each for EON and Aston Martin, plus another to be auctioned off for charity.
Seeing the first customer car move painstakingly through the intricate production process we have created really is quite a thrill. Obviously we have not, as a business, made a new DB5 for more than 50 years, so to be involved in the building of these cars, which will go on to form part of Aston Martin’s history, is something I’m sure all of us will be telling our grandkids about! – Clive Wilson, Heritage Programme Manager
We are making, perhaps, some of the most desirable ‘toys’ ever built for 25 very lucky buyers worldwide. – Paul Spires, President of Aston Martin Works
First deliveries of the DB5 Goldfinger Continuation will commence in the second half of 2020. Watch behind the scenes footage below –
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