Aston Martin to build 25 new Goldfinger DB5s

We meet again, Mr Bond

For all the gadgets, cocktails and witty one-liners, there’s no greater symbol of James Bond than the Aston Martin DB5.

Ever since the British spy first piloted one in 1964’s Goldfinger, the luxury tourer has been synonymous with the action man – and now Aston Martin is building 25 brand-new ones.

These won’t just be any old DB5s, either: in a move fit for Bond himself, the Gaydon-based marque will craft the new series to match the car that appeared on screen in Goldfinger, gadgets and all.

Fancy owning a classic that Q would be proud of? Here’s all you need to know about the new continuation series.

Famed relationship

Aston Martin has much to thank the Bond franchise for. Besides Goldfinger, the iconic DB5 has appeared in six films – including Casino Royale, Skyfall and Spectre – and it’s done nothing to harm the popularity of this stunning machine.

Icon in miniature

Just as the DB5’s appearance in Goldfinger spawned a Corgi die-cast model (which reportedly sold 2.5m units in 1965 alone), so interpretations continue to hit shelves: just this year, Lego released a set of the same car for bricky Bonds.

New for old

But how can Aston Martin itself cash in on a classic that went out of production in 1965? By building a special series of new ones, of course.

You only build twice

Following the example of the DB4 GT continuation project, which saw the British marque create 25 new examples of its famous early-’60s GT, Aston Martin has revealed it will produce the same number of Goldfinger-inspired DB5s.

Unshaken, still stirring

If the DB4 GT continuation is anything to go by, that means each new DB5 will carry a 4-litre straight-six engine – just as the original machine did in its day. 

Whether power output (282bhp) and top speed (148mph) will be the same remains to be seen.

Do you expect me to pay?

Customers will have to shell out £2.75m (excluding tax) for the privilege of owning an Aston in the image of Bond – and they won’t take delivery of their new-old car until 2020.

Back in birch

What will that bag them? Besides a faithfully recreated DB5 finished in Silver Birch – albeit with a few ‘sympathetic modifications’ to ensure modern reliability – that Goldfinger tie-in will net customers a slew of gadgets.

Q by any other name

Each car will ship with working gadgets developed by Chris Corbould, a man who’s worked with the special-effects team on some 14 Bond films in the past.

Limited licence to thrill

Exactly which of the Goldfinger car’s gadgets will be fitted hasn’t been confirmed, though it’s unlikely an ejector seat will make it past a safety inspection. Then again, a footnote on the press release reminds interested parties that the car won’t be road legal…

Where’s the big red button?

The same probably goes for the oil slick and smoke screen kit on Bond’s original.

More likely to appear are the revolving number plates, GPS dashboard and arm-rest controls seen in Goldfinger. Replica tyre cutters and headlight machine guns? Who knows.

25 is not enough

Besides the 25 built for consumers, Aston Martin will make an additional three examples: one for itself, one for EON productions (the company behind the Bond film franchise) and one to be auctioned for charity.

Never say never again

Andy Palmer, President and CEO of Aston Martin, said: “to own a Silver Birch DB5, complete with gadgets and built to the highest standards in the very same factory as the original James Bond cars? Well, that is surely the ultimate collectors’ fantasy.” We’d have to agree.