1965. That’s when Aston Martin ended production of the original DB5. 55 years later, the grand tourer has once again rolled off the assembly line, with the same jaw-dropping design while packing a bevy of toys. That’s because the continuation car is a tribute to the DB5 driven by MI6 agent James Bond played by Sean Connery in the 1964 movie Goldfinger.
For a car that costs £2.75 million (about $3.43M) before taxes, you can imagine a lot of work has been invested in developing the “new” DB5 and integrating 007’s gadgets. Finished in Silver Birch much like the original, the continuation car took roughly 4,500 hours to complete in order to implement the “meticulously detailed authentic reproductions” as seen in the movie car.
The DB5 Is Back!
From the faux dual machine guns at the front to a functional smoke screen delivery system at the back, the DB5 is chock-full of James Bond goodies. It even has a removable roof panel on the passenger side, but that’s an optional feature, even on a car carrying such an exorbitant price tag. The revolving license plate is functional at the front and rear and actually has triple plates, while battering rams have been embedded into both ends of the car.
The list of trinkets installed on the outside in the DB5 Goldfinger continuation car is rounded off by a simulated tire slasher as well as a simulated oil slick delivery system at the back where Aston Martin has also installed a bullet-resistant window. Once you’re inside, the 007 vibe is enhanced by the fake radar screen tracker map and a telephone mounted in the driver’s door.
Gallery: First Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger continuation car
The cabin has been subjected to additional changes to mirror James Bond’s ride by installing a remote control panel for the gadgets while inserting an actuator button at the top of the gear knob. There’s also a storage tray underneath the seat for “weapons,” along with custom switchgear once you open the central armrest.
Power is provided by a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter inline-six engine good for 290 hp channeled to the rear axle through a five-speed ZF manual gearbox and a mechanical limited-slip differential. The DB5 Goldfinger continuation car boasts the original design of the car with aluminum body panels combined with a “mild steel chassis.” Aston Martin mentions “some sympathetic modifications and enhancements” have been made to “ensure the highest levels of build quality and reliability.”
Customer deliveries have already kicked off and will continue later this year as part of a production run limited to 25 examples.
Source: Aston Martin
Making history: the first new DB5 in more than 50 years rolls off the line as inaugural Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger Continuation car is completed
· ‘Job 1’ customer car is completed on schedule as DB5 Goldfinger Continuation production gets into full swing at Aston Martin Works
· The first in a strictly limited run of 25 customer cars is finished after around 4,500 hours of meticulous construction
· In association with EON Productions the new car features a broad selection of working gadgets familiar from the classic James Bond film, Goldfinger
6 July 2020, Newport Pagnell, UK: Many of the UK’s most talented craftspeople and engineers put the finishing touches to the first in a new but very familiar series of Aston Martin sports cars, as the first customer car in the DB5 Goldfinger Continuation programme left the production line last week.
The ‘Job 1’ DB5 represents not only another significant design and engineering success, but also becomes the first new DB5 to be built by Aston Martin in more than half a century as the British luxury sports car maker’s Continuation programme once again makes history.
Dubbed ‘the most famous car in the world’ and renowned as being among the most desirable and sought-after classic Aston Martin models, the DB5 has become a byword for timeless style and sports car desirability. Fewer than 900 saloon examples were built between 1963 and 1965, with by far the most famous of the original owners being the world’s best-known secret agent – James Bond – who first drove the car that is today inextricably linked with him in the 1964 film, Goldfinger.
Now, 55 years after the last new DB5 rolled elegantly off the production line at Aston Martin’s then global manufacturing base in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, work is ongoing there on a strictly limited number of new DB5 models.
Created in association with Bond filmmaker EON Productions, and featuring a broad suite of working gadgets first seen in the film, the Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger Continuation cars really are history in the making.
Aside from being hugely significant as new DB5’s, the cars being built this year are also remarkable in so much as they feature working gadgets similar to those previously only seen on cars used for filming or promotion of the James Bond films. The new cars include an array of functioning devices created by Bond film special effects supervisor Chris Corbould OBE.
The list of Bond-inspired gadgets includes:
Exterior:
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
Removable passenger seat roof panel (optional equipment)
Interior:
Simulated radar screen tracker map
Telephone in driver’s door
Gear knob actuator button
Armrest and centre console-mounted switchgear
Under-seat hidden weapons/storage tray
Remote control for gadget activation
Each of the 25 new cars are meticulously detailed authentic reproductions of the DB5 seen on screen, with some sympathetic modifications and enhancements to ensure the highest levels of build quality and reliability. All the Goldfinger edition cars are being built to one exterior colour specification – Silver Birch paint – just like the original.
The cars feature original DB5 styled aluminium exterior body panels cloaking an authentic DB5 mild steel chassis structure. Under the bonnet there’s a 4.0-litre naturally aspirated inline six-cylinder engine with a six-plug head, three SU carburettors and oil cooler, that’s capable of generating in the order of 290 bhp. This is mated to a five-speed ZF manual transmission in the rear-wheel drive DB5, which also features 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.
Scores of world-class Aston Martin craftsmen and women, technicians, development engineers and designers have been involved in the project, working carefully with a suite of handpicked suppliers from across the world and ensuring that each new DB5 matches not only the aspirations of its owner, but also the duty to the brand’s proud 107-year heritage.
Paul Spires, President of Aston Martin Works where the original DB5 was built and the new cars are also being created, said: “To see the first customer car finished, and realise that this is the first new DB5 we have built in more than half a century, really is quite a moment.
“It is a rare and genuine privilege to be involved in this latest Aston Martin continuation project, and to be helping to support the creation of new versions of what is perhaps the world’s most famous motor car. I’m absolutely certain that the 25 lucky owners who will take delivery of these cars will be thrilled with them.”
First deliveries of the DB5 Goldfinger Continuation to customers have commenced and will continue through the second half of 2020.