Photo Credit: Michel Curie
In 2018, Aston Martin announced that it would produce just 25 James Bond Goldfinger DB5 Continuation cars. Priced at $3.6 million each, these British classics are each outfitted with props and technology straight from the 1964 movie Goldfinger.
The Goldfinger DB5 Continuation will be built at Aston Martin Works in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, England in collaboration with EON Production. This is the same factory site where the original DB5 was produced between 1963-1965.
Chris Corbould, special effects producer from the Bond franchise helped design the cars to ensure authenticity. Just like Sean Connery’s iconic ride in Goldfinger, these DB5s have a variety of spy essentials.
Corbould said:
“The main challenge has been to recreate the gadgets from the film world and transfer them into a consumer product,”
He goes on: “We have licence in the film world to ‘cheat’ different aspects under controlled conditions. For instance, we might have four different cars to accommodate four different gadgets. We obviously don’t have that luxury on these DB5s as all the gadgets have to work in the same car all the time.”
“The guns appearing from the front lights were a particular challenge as, in the film world, we are able to use flammable gas mixtures combined with an ignition system to produce a flame and noise effect. Clearly, this is not practical in untrained hands, so we have devised a new system to achieve a realistic effect.”
The Aston Martin Goldfinger DB5 features the following internal and external modifications:
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
Interior:
– Simulated radar screen tracker map
– Telephone in driver’s door
– Gear knob actuator button
– Armrest and center console-mounted switchgear
– Under-seat hidden weapons/storage tray
Set to ship later this year, the Aston Martin Goldfinger DB5 Continuation car is a highly customized James Bond collectible par excellence.
“There was a goal to include all the gadgets in the Goldfinger film,” said an Aston Martin spokesperson. “And apart from the ejector seat, we’ve managed it.”
Paul Spires, president of Aston Martin Works said: “As work progresses on these remarkable cars, it’s both exciting and a little sobering to think that we are truly making history here. Creating 25 Goldfinger DB5 continuations and working with Eon Productions and special effects supervisor, Chris Corbould, is something truly unique and a real career highlight for everyone involved here at Aston Martin Works.”
All 25 of the Aston Martin Goldfinger DB5 Continuations will be painted silver birch, the same as the original. The cars have 282 horsepower engines which easily complete a 0-60mph acceleration in 7.1 seconds, and with a top speed of 148mph.
Source: The Guardian