Aston Martin DB5 James Bond Continuation

So far, there only has been a small number of continuation cars, as manufacturers call re-launched classics, and all were racing cars whose former production was not completed due to various reasons. Especially Jaguar with the E-Type Lightweight, the XKSS and the D-Type as well as Aston Martin with the DB4 GT and former series of the DB4 GT Zagato tried so far for this field of collectors cars. Now, Aston Martin is treating 25 wealthy customers worldwide with something very special. The Brits, together with the film production company EON Productions, will produce 25 detailed replicas of the James Bond film car. The British secret agent drove an Aston Martin DB5 from the third movie of the series, ‘Goldfinger’, every now and then. In this car the Q department integrated various special effect functions.

These special effects were invented by Chris Corbould, who was in charge of such functions in eight films of the ‘James Bond’ series and participated in a total of 14 episodes. He won an Oscar for his skills and was awarded the ‘Order of the British Empire’ (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II. In the DB5 movie car sat functions such as machine guns behind the front indicators, tire cutters in the rim central locks, oil and fog throwers in the trunk, rotating license plates, a bulletproof protection for the rear window, a tracking screen in the central dashboard, a car phone and an ejector seat. At the former Aston Martin plant in Newport Pagnell, where now the classic department Aston Martin Works is at home, 25 hand-made DB5 with exactly these functions will now be produced.

From the outside all 25 cars will show the typical color ‘Silver Birch’, while inside dark red leather is used. James Bond used the car after its first appearance in ‘Goldfinger’ also in ‘Thunderball’, ‘GoldenEye’, ‘Tomorrow Never Dies’, ‘Casino Royale’, ‘Skyfall’ and ‘Spectre’. However, anyone who thinks that the very same car has been used every time, is wrong. Its worldwide success, meanwhile, is easy to evaluate. In 1965 alone, toy manufacturer Corgi sold more than 2.5 million model cars of the James Bond DB5 with an ejector seat.

Maybe some of the kids who used to play with the model car back in the days can now purchase one of the 25 continuation cars. They just have to transfer 2.75 million £ plus taxes and wait for their car until 2020. Technically, the replicas correspond to those 898 original DB5s built between 1963 and 1965. Under the bonnet sits a straight six-cylinder engine with four liters of displacement and 282 bhp, which drive the rear wheels via a five-speed manual transmission. Following the limited production, Aston Martin Works will produce three more vehicles, one for Aston Martin, one for EON Productions and one for a charity auction. Incidentally, these continuation cars are not strett legal at all.

Images: Aston Martin, EON Productions