Movie magic made real in 007’s Aston DB5

Gadgets galore

When Aston Martin’s DB5 made its silver-screen debut in the 1964 James Bond box-office hit Goldfinger, it became one of the most instantly recognisable and coveted film cars of all time.

The combination of incredible gadgets, and the glamour and desirability of the then brand-new DB5, created a legend that has endured for more than half a century. 

Now, Aston’s real-life Q-branch has decided to bring the special back to life, creating 25 exclusive continuation cars featuring everything from revolving numberplates to smoke screens and oil slicks. Join us as we take a closer look at this hyper-exclusive machine, ahead of the original’s fast-approaching reappearance in the latest James Bond film, No Time To Die.

Like gold dust

Just 25 DB5 Goldfinger replicas are set to be built, each with a ticket price of £3.3m.

Yet despite that sky-high entry price – and the fact that the cars aren’t even road legal – every single one has reputedly been sold.

No mean feat

Each of these continuation DB5s will take 4500 hours to complete, from marrying the 290bhp 4-litre straight-six, five-speed ZF manual gearbox and limited-slip differential to the chassis, through to the final coat of that trademark Silver Birch paint.

They’ve got your number

To recreate the film-star car’s myriad gadgets, Aston Martin Works enlisted the help of Academy Award-winning special-effects creator and long-time James Bond veteran Chris Corbould. 

Revolving registration plates front and rear will allow owners to cycle through three different numbers, including the most famous of all: BMT 216A.

Beautiful inside and out

At first glance, the interior is that of a standard DB5, though this example is finished in grey rather than the black leather of James Bond’s Aston Martin.

Look a little closer, though, and you’ll spot several nods to the gadgets seen in the film.

In control

All of the gadgets can be controlled from outside the car via a secondary box of switches.

A small key must be entered before the controls become active, ensuring only the car’s lucky owner – or 007, naturally – can deploy them.

Slick operator

You recognise this from the film, right?

The DB5’s rear indicator lenses flip up at the flick of a switch, revealing the oil-slick delivery system – although our test car was instead loaded with water for the demonstration. Safety first, and all that.

In a haze

And now for your next trick…

Getting tailed by a posse of questionably dressed henchmen in a Mercedes-Benz 190? All in a day’s work for a secret agent. Then simply deploy the smoke screens and watch your pursuers drive off a cliff or spontaneously combust.

Under fire

Of course, the front sidelights of these continuation DB5s hide twin Browning machine gun barrels – or at least an approximation of them. Perfect for hurrying people along at the petrol pumps.

Overriders front and rear deploy outwards to form battering rams.

All mod cons

This console-mounted radar may not be fully functional, but it is very cool, and it still provides a real-time look at the car’s location on the map. It also makes an authentic beeping noise.

Silver screen

And there’s yet more.

The rear bulletproof shield used to good effect during Goldfinger’s most exciting car chase is present and correct, emerging from the back end of the car to protect its occupants from gunfire – though it’s more for show on ‘our’ replica.

Health and safety

Even though the cars are not road legal, Aston Martin’s designers had to be aware of any health and safety risks associated with these Bond-inspired modifications.

As a result, some of 007’s gadgets didn’t make it to the continuation cars. The tyre slashers did, however, though instead of extending from each axle, they’re in a special case in the boot.

In the hot seat

Arguably the most famous gadget to adorn the Goldfinger DB5 was the ejector seat.

Sadly, that’s one of the few elements not to be replicated on the continuation model, however it is possible to specify a pop-out roof section above the passenger seat – just enough to unnerve anyone you take for a spin.

Hidden depths

It doesn’t stop there, oh no.

Each of these limited-run DB5s also has a hidden phone in the driver’s door, as well as a weapons tray underneath the driver’s seat.

A change of function

The little red button on top of the gearlever remains, though.

In this case it does not operate the ejector seat, no matter how annoying your passenger is, but it does serve to fire all the other gadgets on the car.

Nerve centre

And, as per the on-screen star, all the DB5’s gadgets can be selected using control switches found inside the central armrest.

Old faithful

Despite all these additions, in terms of performance and handling these continuation cars are comparable to a standard DB5.

Although James Bond only used his Aston Martin as a service car for a short spell, it appears in several films as his private car, most recently while tearing around the back streets of Matera in the soon-to-be-released No Time to Die.