It is the car that has captured the imagination of generations of James Bond fans.
But the closest you could get to owning the gadget-filled Aston Martin DB5 first driven by Sean Connery in Goldfinger more than 50 years ago was in a toy version – until now.
Twenty eight replicas of the car are to be built, incorporating as many of its special anti-spy features as possible.
Costing around £3.3million (NZ$6.3million), the cars will have revolving number plates, bullet proof shields, tyre-shredders and even pop-out machine guns.
The famous ejector seat, however much desired, is unlikely to feature on health and safety grounds, although Aston Martin says it would not rule out installing one if a collector wanted to customise their car.
The machine guns and tyre shredders will also be design features rather than working weapons.
Working with Bond producers Eon Productions and their special effects experts, Aston Martin will use the blueprints of the 1964 car to build the ‘ultimate collectors’ fantasy’ at its factory in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire. Nearly 900 DB5 gadgetless coupes – which originally cost £4,175 – were built there between 1963 and 1965.
Twenty-five of the replicas will be sold, with delivery scheduled for autumn next year. A further one will go to Eon Productions, one will remain with Aston Martin and one will be auctioned for charity.
All will have the original silver birch colour bodywork. After the DB5 appeared in Goldfinger in 1964, it created such a sensation that Corgi brought out a toy version the following year.
Complete with ejector seat, machine guns and bullet-proof shield, and available in gold or silver, 2.5million were sold. Last month Lego launched a 1,290-piece version, costing £129.99.
The DB5 featured in six subsequent 007 films – Thunderball, GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, Casino Royale, Skyfall and Spectre.
Aston Martin president and chief executive Andy Palmer said: ‘The connection between Aston Martin and James Bond is something of which we are very proud and it is remarkable that the DB5 remains the definitive James Bond car after so many years.’
- Daily Mail