The long wait is almost over, it’s nearly 6 years since the last Bond-movie SPECTRE premiered in November 2015. On September 28th next week, the latest Bond movie will premiere in London followed by theaters worldwide, it’s Daniel Craig’s last appearance as 007. To bridge the waiting time, let’s have a look at the most iconic Bond car, the Aston Martin DB5. Last seen at the end of SPECTRE; Daniel Craig and Lea Sedoux drive away in the DB5 and first still images from No Time To Die indicate that the DB5 is part of a heavy battle scene.
I captured the legendary “Goldfinger” Aston Martin DB5 out in the Swiss Alps and can finally provide an in-depth look on the car and all the tech which was installed inside. There are only two of those cars from the Goldfinger movie in the world, this one belongs to a well-known Swiss car collector. David described his first encounter with this automotive pearl as follow: “On a sunny Saturday in September 2020, the timeless shape of a DB5 arrived at the legendary Kulm Hotel in St.Moritz, turning many heads of pedestrians and guests”.
To see a DB5 on public roads is a rare sight in any case, but the number plate made me curious – isn’t this the famous LU6789 from “Goldfinger” ???
Goldfinger Aston Martin DB5
And yes, except the passenger eject seat (which was never installed in any of the film cars, only on a mockup), this model is still fully functional with smoke-cannons on the rear, two machine guns coming out of the fog-lights, turning number plates and the bulletproof shield on the rear as explained by the proud owner.
The second photo gallery shows the upgrades made by “Q”, starting with pressure bottles in the trunk, pipe work to activate the various actuators inside the car, the central console with the switches and buttons and the square radar screen with a blinking red dot…
Goldfinger Aston Martin DB5 Gadgets
The legendary DB5 appeared in several Bond movies over the last decades – hence it’s no surprise to see the Aston Martin once more as brave battle partner of 007. This time the car chase scene was filmed in the historic centre of Matera, Italy as well as the ancient Sassi which is a UNESCO-protected cave dwelling.
Some villain cars (most probably Jaguars, Range Rovers) will complete the car lineup. The trailer also provides a glimpse of the Valhalla in a scene with Ralph Fiennes as “M”.
Photos by David Kaiser and UPI for “No Time To Die” still images.
September 25, 2021 / Comments Off on No Time to Die: James Bond’s “Goldfinger” Aston Martin DB5 Lives On
Aston Martin, The Little Car Company and EON productions announced the launch of the special edition Aston Martin DB5 Junior inspired by the 25th James Bond film No Time To Die. The film will be released in cinemas from 30th September.
The special edition model will pay homage to both the Aston Martin and 007 brands with Silver Birch paintwork, Smiths instruments, individually numbered chassis plates and Aston Martin badging. The model has been designed as a convertible to offer seating for an adult and child side by side.
In addition, the vehicle features multiple driving modes, Q style gadgets, a range of up to 80 miles and some secret ‘Easter Eggs’ have been hidden within the car for the lucky owners to find.
The Q style gadgets are controlled by individual controls in a hidden switch panel in the passenger door, at a push of a button, the headlights drop and reveal a twin set of simulated Gatling guns with imitation barrel blasts and flashes.
Furthermore, the DB5 Junior can produce a smoke screen to aid a successful getaway and although it’s not road legal, customers will receive automatic membership of the Aston Martin Members Club and will also be allowed to attend and take part in exclusive events held by the company.
The No Time To Die special edition model will be limited to 125 units only and the price has been set at £90,000 including local taxes.
Aston Martin DB5 Junior
September 22, 2021 / Comments Off on Aston Martin DB5 Junior: 2/3 Scale Model For Sale at $122k
The latest James Bond movie is about to be released at the time of writing, and while Aston Martin themselves have already started their No Time To Die campaign by putting a 1:1 scale replica of the famous Bond DB5 inside a giant Corgi Toys box, there are others that plan to ride the James Bond wave this new movie will cause, just check out this amazing silver metallic DB5 Convertible ‘No Time To Die Edition’ … but it might not be what you would expect …
What you are looking at here is actually a two-thirds scale replica of the iconic Aston Martin DB5, all-electric by the way, created by ‘The Little Car Company’ together with Aston Martin and EON Production … only 125 units of this very special Aston Martin DB5 Junior No Time To Die Edition will be made worldwide, and it does include some of those famous Bond gadgets.
The Little Car Company has a very interesting catalog of amazing classic cars, downscaled to be enjoyed by not only children but their parents too. How about a 75% reproduction of the legendary Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa, called the Testa Rossa J, and limited to 299 units, they even have a complete configurator online to create your bespoke Testa Rossa J in just about any color you like.
But it gets even better, with the Bugatti Baby II, another 75% scale model, but this time of the 1920’s Bugatti Type 35, probably the most successful race car of all time with about 2,000 wins under her belt, but the story gets more interesting when Ettore Bugatti built a half-scale replica for his son Jean’s fourth birthday. Intended as a one-off, customers convinced Ettore to start building this smaller-scale version too, and in the end about 500 units were made almost a century ago.
Today you can get a more modern version, which happens to be a little larger too, as a three-quarter Bugatti Baby II model from The Little Car Company, again limited to only 500 units, available in many different colors, this new Bugatti Baby II is a rear-wheel drive, battery-powered car that can reach a top speed of about 20 km/h in ‘novice mode’ but this can be raised to 45 km/h in export mode … the Baby II even comes with a ‘Speed Key’ like the Chiron, which releases 10kW and no speed limiter.
But back to the Aston Martin DB5 Junior now, and while we will discuss this new limited edition ‘No Time To Die’ version next, first let’s take a look at what The Little Car Company offers in their DB5 Junior range too, at a more democratic price. With a battery-powered engine delivering 5kW or 6.7hp from a 1.8kWh battery the base model DB5 Junior is listed at £35,000 (US$ 50,000) before options, but just like the big brothers from Aston Martin, you can opt for a DB5 Vantage Junior which comes with two batteries and doubles the power output to 10kW (13.4 bhp) and even comes with a limited-slip differential … at £45,000 ($62,000).
But we are here for the piece de résistance, the DB5 JUNIOR No Time To Die Edition that starts at £90,000, so about $125,000 … for a toy car … or is it. No, this 2/3rd scale replica is much more than a toy, this very special model is limited to just 112 units and comes with a massive power upgrade compared to the Vantage edition. Now 4 1.8 kWh batteries get installed delivering 16kW of power or 21.5 bhp that pushes this electric car up to 45 mph … this isn’t a toy anymore.
But wait, there is more, we are talking about a James Bond special edition, so that comes with Gatling guns behind the headlights, digital revolving license plates, a smokescreen generator, a hidden switch panel for the gadgets, and even a Skid mode, and while the real Aston Martin DB5 driven in the movie is a coupe, this one comes as a convertible, as this allows the child to be accompanied by an adult sitting side by side.
The paint on this Aston Martin DB5 Junior No Time To Die Edition is the period-correct Silver Birch while for the dashboard the correct Smiths instruments are fitted, being a limited edition, there are individually numbered chassis plates and genuine Aston Martin badges on this two-thirds replica.
Further testament we aren’t talking about an expensive toy here is the fact they did a 3D scan of a real Aston Martin DB5 to create this smaller-scale version, and while it’s electric, the fuel gauge has been replaced by a battery meter, but in their effort to create a safe car for a child to drive, they also fitted Brembo disc brakes, which regenerate when braking while Bilstein dampers and coil-over springs can keep up with the performance.
Ben Hedley, CEO of The Little Car Company, said: “Regarded as the most famous car in cinematic history, the gadget-laden Aston Martin DB5 awed audiences around the world over fifty years ago. Now, that story continues. As part of an exclusive partnership with EON Productions and Aston Martin, we have had the opportunity to create something truly unique for James Bond fans and collectors. We can’t wait to see the adventures these cars take with their owners.”
September 21, 2021 / Comments Off on Aston Martin DB5 Junior No Time To Die Edition
If you ask people what car James Bond drives, chances are you’ll get Aston Martin as an answer, sure Pierce Brosnan drove a few BMWs in his movies, but Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, now also Daniel Craig, were all driving Aston Martin, with the classic DB5 probably being the most famous one, complete with passenger ejection seat and machine guns behind the lights.
I’m sure many, just like me, once owned the Corgi made toy version of this 1965 Aston Martin DB5, with the small figurine to put on the passenger seats, only to press a lever underneath the model that opens the roof and shoots the guy into the air, mine even came with the bulletproof panel to rise behind the rear window and the retractable machine guns at the front, even the risers on the front bumper came out … I had so much fun with this model, and it all kept working even after I lost the little guy to shoot out the roof.
That specific car has become so important in both Aston Martin history and in movie history, that they decided to create the Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger Continuation car, complete with a large array of working gadgets that fans will recognize from the classic James Bond film: rotating number plates, a retractable bulletproof rear shield, extending front over-riders and of course pop-out machine guns.
After the original DB5 has been out of production for 55 years, this very special Continuation model will be built only 25 times, all as an authentic reproduction of the classic DB5 used in the Bond movie, and you can only get it in one specific color called Silver Birch, just like the 1965 car, but this modern recreation does come with some mild modifications and enhancements to ensure the highest levels of quality and reliability expected in today’s world.
The original 1965 Corgi Toys are highly sought-after, and very expensive these days, as with all scale models, it is important the car itself is in perfect condition, but also that it comes with the original accessories and it’s still inside the original box, where the plastic window hasn’t turned yellow, back in 1965 the Corgi James Bond Aston Martin DB5 from the movie Goldfinger earned the UK ‘Toy of the Year’ and ‘Best Boys Toy’ titles at the National Association of Toy Retailers Awards … but Corgi is still making this model today, after numerous retooling, but you can still buy one.
Obtaining an original 1965 version of the Corgi toy might be expensive, but one of the 25 Continuation cars will most likely be even more expensive, just as a celebration of the return of 007’s iconic Aston Martin DB5 to the big screen, Aston Martin, and Corgi unveiled a full-size replica of the original 1965 Corgi DB5 model. Shown at The Coaling Jetty, outside Battersea Power Station, this 1:1 model measures 5.66 meters long, 2.7 meters tall, and 2.7 meters deep, and it’s shown inside an original Corgi Toys box … only massively larger.
In about a month the 25th James Bond movie will be released, so it was the perfect timing for Aston Martin to launch their own No Time To Die campaign, complete with a bespoke TV spot, in the movie itself we’ll be recognizing a total of four different Aston Martin models, naturally the famous DB5 will be seen again, but this time the classic Aston Martin V8 will make a return too, while the DBS super GT comes with skis mounted on the rear window … and as a piece de resistance the impressive Valhalla mid-engined hypercar makes an appearance too.
Marek Reichman said “We are really honored to be marking the start of the No Time To Die campaign today with this exciting unveil. Aston Martin’s relationship with James Bond spans decades and the DB5 is, without question, the most famous car in the world by virtue of its 50-plus year association. Working with EON Productions and Chris Corbould to build 25 of the DB5 Goldfinger Continuations was a truly unique project for everyone involved at Aston Martin. Now, to work with Corgi – another quintessentially British brand – and to see James Bond’s most cherished car sitting inside a to-scale toy box in central London is quite outstanding”.
The full-size replica Corgi DB5 box will remain on display at Battersea Power Station in the UK for the general public to admire until 1 October 2021, check out the TV spot below:
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September 3, 2021 / Comments Off on No Time To Die campaign by Aston Martin
Aston Martin has announced that the first of 25 Aston Martin DB5 continuation models is complete. The British firm plans to make 25 classic DB5’s with working gadgets inspired by the James Bond film, Goldfinger.
It has been 55 years since the last Aston Martin DB5 rolled off the Newport Pagnell production line. During its original production run, fewer than 900 saloon examples of the Aston Martin DB5 were built between 1963 and 1965.
Construction of the new Aston Martin DB5 continuation model is handled by Aston Martin Works. Each example requires 4,500 hours of work. Each gets Silver Birch paint like the original and a range of gadgets.
Aston Martin DB5
The list includes:
Exterior:
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)
Interior:
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
The Goldfinger edition Aston Martin DB5 sits on an authentic DB5 mild steel chassis structure. Under the bonnet there’s a 4.0-litre naturally aspirated inline six-cylinder engine generating around 300 hp.
Power is delivered through a five-speed ZF manual transmission with a mechanical limited slip differential. Braking is through a servo-assisted hydraulic Girling-type steel disc brakes with rack and pinion steering.
24 more examples will leave Aston Martin’s factory with the price set at a staggering £2.75 million.
July 7, 2020 / Comments Off on James Bond’s Nostalgic Aston Martin DB5 is Ready
When you mention the Aston Martin DB5, the first thing that comes to mind is James Bond. That’s because the DB5 is the most legendary Bond vehicle there is.
It evokes the same feelings as the Bond movies and Bond himself – Debonaire, classy, mysterious and the epitome of cool.
With the upcoming release of Skyfall in October, and the DB5 making a striking appearance in the film, the makers of Skyfall have released a video of the DB5 on set and in action.
July 26, 2012 / Comments Off on VIDEO: The MOST Legendary Of ALL James Bonds’ Cars To Get A Revival
The cars from the James Bond films have become legendary. To celebrate the release of the upcoming Bond 50 box set, a video montage trailer featuring the films most recognizable automobiles has been released. Bentleys, Audis, Alfa Romeos and of course Bond’s signature Aston Martin DB5!
Bond 50, which celebrates 50 years of James Bond with the debut of all 22 films in a Blu-ray box set, will be released this September, just in time to coincide with the box office release of Skyfall in October 2012.
July 19, 2012 / Comments Off on VIDEO: ’50 Years of Bond’ Cars Montage Trailer
Here is a glimpse of the full film that focuses on the creation of the iconic world of James Bond over the last 50 years. You’ll get an inside perspective from award-winning set designer, Sir Ken Adam; as well as Aston Martin’s Head of Design; along with the designers and the makers of the legendary Golden Gun.
The Barbican celebrates the 50th anniversary of James Bond with a unique exhibition that showcases the inside story of the design and style, including the original Aston Martin DB5 on display, of the world’s most influential and iconic movie brand. If you happen to be in the area, check it out: barbican.org.uk/bond/
July 10, 2012 / Comments Off on VIDEO: Designing 007 | Bond’s World
