Aston Martin to Reproduce Iconic DB5 from James Bond Films
Calling all fans of international espionage and Sean Connery enthusiasts! Aston Martin is set to recreate 28 models of the legendary DB5, the very vehicle driven by 007 in the 1964 film Goldfinger, complete with rotating license plates.
This new production mirrors the earlier DB4 GT Continuation initiative and comes as a result of collaboration with EON Productions. The revamped Bond car will boast a 282-horsepower, 4.0-liter inline-six engine, along with functional gadgets designed not by the fictional character Q, but by Chris Corbould, an Oscar-winning special effects expert with a rich history in 14 James Bond films.
While Aston Martin has not divulged the full extent of the authenticity regarding the recreated gadgets—or, let’s be honest, the weaponry—it can be inferred that since these vehicles won’t be street-legal, they should be fairly accurate representations. (After all, who knew the NHTSA would frown upon a car equipped with an ejector seat and machine guns?)
Priced at approximately $3.5 million each before taxes, only 25 of these recreated DB5s will be available for purchase. The remaining three will be allocated as follows: one will stay with Aston Martin, another will be held by EON Productions, and the last will be auctioned for charity. Those fortunate enough to snag one can expect the cars to be delivered starting in 2020.
After its debut in Goldfinger, the iconic silver Aston Martin made appearances in six more Bond films, including Thunderball a year later. Following a three-decade absence, it reappeared in 1995’s GoldenEye with Pierce Brosnan. The car was featured again in Tomorrow Never Dies and was later taken for a spin by Daniel Craig in Casino Royale, Skyfall, and Spectre.
Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer stated, “Owning an Aston Martin has long been a dream for James Bond fans, but to possess a Silver Birch DB5, with gadgets and crafted to the highest standards in the same factory as the original Bond vehicles? That’s the ultimate fantasy for collectors. The talented team at Aston Martin Works and expert special effects professionals from the Bond franchise are about to turn this dream into reality for 25 fortunate customers.”
For those who may not have $3.5 million to spare but still wish to get a taste of the James Bond experience, there are reports of a Lego version available for enthusiasts.
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