The Goldfinger Aston Martin DB5 is on a mission

There are only 25 of these DB5 Goldfinger Aston Martin’s being built. Photo: Aston Martin

The first DB5 in more than 50 years has rolled off the line at Aston Martin as the Goldfinger continuation car is completed, and it’s better than we could ever expect.

It’s the ultimate Bond fan vehicle, thanks to such details as a revolving number plate, ‘smoke’, simulated tyre slasher and even a telephone – though we don’t know if you can call M.

Dubbed ‘the most famous car in the world’ and renowned as being among the most desirable and sought-after classic Aston Martin models, the DB5 has become a byword for timeless style and sports car desirability.

Aim, fire! The Goldfinger Aston Martin has simulated twin front machine guns. Photo: Aston Martin

Fewer than 900 sedan examples were built between 1963 and 1965, with by far the most famous of the original owners being the world’s best-known secret agent – James Bond – who first drove the car that is today inextricably linked with him in the 1964 film, Goldfinger.

Now, 55 years after the last DB5 rolled off the production line at Aston Martin’s then global manufacturing base in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, work is ongoing there on a strictly limited number of new DB5 models from the Continuation bespoke department.

The price? It’s £2.75 million, (NZ$5.5m) plus taxes.

Baddie will never get you thanks to the smoke machine. Photo: Aston Martin

The DB5 Goldfinger Continuation construction process takes around 4500 hours per car and each of the 25 new cars is being built to the highest possible quality using a blend of Sir David Brown-era old world craftsmanship, with the sympathetic application of modern engineering advancements and performance enhancements, alongside the integration of cutting-edge gadgets developed in association with Chris Corbould OBE, the special effects supervisor who has worked on more than a dozen Bond films.

The list of Bond-inspired gadgets includes the features, all familiar to viewers of the classic 1964 big screen hit.

They include rear smoke screen and 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 and the option of a removable passenger seat roof panel.

The interior of the NZ$5.5m DB5 has everything a spy needs. Photo: Aston Martin

Inside you get a 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 and a remote control for gadget activation.

All the Goldfinger edition cars are being built to one exterior colour specification – Silver Birch paint – just like the original.

Under the bonnet there’s a 4-litre naturally aspirated inline six-cylinder engine with a six-plug heads mated to a five-speed ZF manual transmission in the rear-wheel drive DB5, which also features a mechanical limited slip differential. All the better for outrunning your baddie.

Those revolving plates will foil baddies, and traffic cameras. Photo: Aston Martin

Marek Reichman, Chief Creative Officer of Aston Martin Lagonda, said: “The DB5 is, without question, the most famous car in the world by virtue of its 50-plus year association with James Bond. To see the first customer car finished, and realise that this is the first new DB5 we have built in more than half a century, really is quite a moment.

“Hello Q? Put me through to M please”. Photo: Aston Martin

“It is a genuine privilege, and significant responsibility, to have been involved in the shaping of this new DB5 and to be helping to lead the creation of new versions of this automotive icon. I’m absolutely certain that the 25 lucky owners who are beginning to take delivery of these cars will be thrilled with them.”

First deliveries of the DB5 Goldfinger Continuation to customers have commenced and will continue through the second half of 2020.

The supermarket run will never be the same with these gadgets. Photo: Aston Martin