Aston Martin has restarted the production of one of the most iconic models to ever roll off its assembly lines - the Aston Martin DB5. ¡®Job 1¡¯ DB5 Goldfinger Continuation car, as it is being called thanks to its James Bond association, will see the return of the legendary car complete with working ¡®Goldfinger¡¯ gadgets. These gadgets have been developed by Aston Martin and Oscar-winning special effects guru Chris Corbould OBE.
Making its way to production after 55 years, the DB5 has been a true poster car for Bond action flicks. The repeated feature of the car in Bond Movies overtime has easily made the DB5 ¡®the most famous car in the world¡¯. At least that is what the company says in its latest release mentioning the reentry of the car into production.
In fact, its new production is being carried out in association with EON Productions, makers of the James Bond films. So it is clear that Aston Martin wants to retain the car¡¯s moniker as James Bond¡¯s ride, or at least a car worthy of the same.
The new production of the DB5 comes as a part of DB5 Goldfinger Continuation construction process. Aston Martin says that the process takes around 4,500 hours to make one unit of the car. At present, the process is being carried out at Aston Martin¡¯s Heritage Division headquarters in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire.
For now, the company will only be building 25 of these limited edition cars. Each of the 25 new cars will feature a blend of Sir David Brown-era old world craftsmanship, along with the application of ¡®modern engineering advancements¡¯ and ¡®performance enhancements¡¯ as per the release.
These include original DB5 styled aluminium exterior body panels wrapped around a DB5 mild steel chassis structure. Under the hood, there¡¯s a 4.0-litre naturally aspirated inline six-cylinder engine with a six-plug head, three SU carburettors and oil cooler. The arrangement is enough to generate around 290 bhp. The DB5 uses a five-speed ZF manual transmission for a rear-wheel drive, along with a mechanical limited slip differential.
To highlight all this, the company has promised the integration of cutting-edge gadgets developed in association with Chris Corbould OBE, the special effects supervisor of more than a dozen Bond films. On the exterior, these gadgets include -
- 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)
Such gadgets are also promised to be on the interiors -?
- 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
All the gadgets are a reminder of the real purpose of the car, i.e. to help the English secret agent in times of dire need. After 55 years of doing so, the DB5 will regain its role with the Bond in the upcoming flick ¡®No Time To Die.¡¯
Aston Martin DB5 marked its debut in the James Bond series back in 1964 with the movie ¡®Goldfinger¡¯ starring Sir Sean Connery as 007. Since then, the car has made several on-screen appearances. It was featured in Thunderball (1965) with a rear facing water cannon and a boot stowed jetpack. It then reappeared in the series in Goldeneye (1995), wherein Pierce Brosnan conducts a high speed chase in the DB5 of a Ferrari 355.
Apart from these, the DB5 has made three more appearances in James Bond movies with the at-present James Bond Daniel Craig. It was there in Casino Royale (2006), Skyfall (2012), and will be in the upcoming movie ¡®No Time To Die.¡¯
So here is a real chance for buyers to get their hands on the limited edition of the iconic car. Aston Martin has priced each DB5 Goldfinger continuation car at ?2.75m (Rs 25.6 crore), plus taxes. The company will start its deliveries by the later half of this year.