Aston Martin DB5.Photo: © Copyright Aston Martin. Used by permission.
Ejector seat? You’re joking!” — Sean Connery as James Bond in Goldfinger.
“I never joke about my work, 007.” — Desmond Llewellyn as Q in Goldfinger.
One of the most iconic cars in cinema history is the Aston Martin DB5, which made its film debut in the 1964 Bond film Goldfinger turns 60 in September 2023.James Bond and the Aston Martin DB5 are a classic pair in the world of espionage and cinema. The car became an instant icon and a symbol of Bond’s style and sophistication. Since then, the DB5 has appeared in several other Bond films, including Thunderball, GoldenEye, Skyfall, and No Time to Die. The DB5 has become more than just a car, it is a legend.
The Aston Martin DB5 is a British grand tourer that was produced from 1963 to 1965 by Aston Martin and designed by Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera. It was an evolution of the DB4 series, with a larger 4.0 L inline-six engine that delivered 282 hp in standard form and 325 hp in the Vantage version. The DB5 had a top speed of 145 mph (233 km/h) and could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 96 km/h) in 8.1 seconds. The DB5 also featured many interior upgrades, such as power windows, full leather trim, and a fire extinguisher.
The DB5 had a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, with a five-speed manual or a three-speed automatic transmission. The DB5 had disc brakes on all four wheels, coil springs and anti-roll bar on the front suspension, and coil springs, trailing arm, Watts linkage, and De Dion axle on the rear suspension. The DB5 had an all-aluminum body built to Superleggera patent technique, which reduced weight and improved aerodynamics. The DB5 was offered as a coupe, a convertible, or a rare shooting brake variant.
There was a total of four Goldfinger DB5s. Two of these were used in filming and two were used only for promotional purposes. The DB5 was not just a stylish and fast vehicle but was also with a variety of gadgets by Q Branch to help Bond in his mission. They included twin machine-guns that deployed from behind the front turn signals, which Bond used to shoot at his enemies or clear his way. The car also had rotating license plates that could switch between three different countries (UK, France and Switzerland), enabling Bond to avoid being identified by the authorities in different locations. There were also bumper rams that could extend from the front and rear bumpers, giving Bond extra protection and force when ramming other vehicles or breaking through barriers. The DB5 also had a bulletproof screen that rose up behind the rear window, shielding Bond from gunfire from behind. To create more confusion and distraction, the car had smokescreen and oil slick dispensers that could be activated from the dashboard, creating a cloud of smoke or a slippery surface to hinder the following cars. To track down his nemesis Goldfinger, Bond used a tracking screen that showed his position and his target’s location, based on a magnetic homing device that Bond attached to Goldfinger’s Rolls Royce. The car also had an in-car phone that allowed Bond to communicate with MI6 headquarters or other contacts, such as Felix Leiter. One of the most famous gadgets was the passenger ejector seat that could be triggered by a red button under the gear lever, sending an unwanted passenger flying through the roof. The ejector seat came in handy when Bond had to dispose of one of Goldfinger’s henchmen who tried to kill him. Finally, the car had tire slashers that extended from the wheel hubs, allowing Bond to shred the tires of the car next to him, as he did with Tilly Masterson’s Mustang.
To celebrate the release of the 25th Bond film, No Time To Die (2021), Aston Martin produced the limited edition DB5 Goldfinger Continuation in 2020, a replica of the iconic car that James Bond drove in the 1964 movie Goldfinger. It was built by Aston Martin Works at Newport Pagnell, the original home of the DB5, and features functioning faux gadgets such as machine-guns, smoke screen, oil slick, rotating license plates, and more. The car is painted in Silver Birch and costs $3.5 million. Only 25 units were produced. It is not street legal
The Goldfinger DB5 was a masterpiece of cinematic spy technology that became a symbol of Bond’s style and sophistication. The DB5 is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful and iconic cars ever made, and it has become a highly sought-after collector’s item. According to Classic.com, the average price of a DB5 Coupe sold at auction is $1,201,647 USD.
Sources
Aston Martin
AstonMartin.com
007.com — Official James Bond Website
007.com
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