- Aston Martin has announced its release of James Bond's iconic DB5.
- The car manufacturer has promised the models "will be authentic reproductions of the DB5 seen on screen".
- The revolving number plates will work, along with "more" functioning gadgets.
Aston Martin has just announced it will release the ultimate collector's car.
In 2020, 25 customers who have shelled out £2.75 million ($3.5 million) plus taxes will receive their own version of James Bond's iconic DB5.
Yes, the one from Goldfinger. And Thunderball, GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, Casino Royale, Skyfall and Spectre.
Good luck securing one — there's a good chance they'll have all been sold by the time you finish reading this, despite the fact they won't even be road legal. That's because when Aston Martin promises the new DB5s "will be authentic reproductions of the DB5 seen on screen", you can rest assured it does what it says on the box.
The revolving number plates will work, along with "more" functioning gadgets which we'll probably learn about as the cars get closer to rolling out of Aston Martin Works in Newport Pagnell — the original home of the DB5.
To ensure that authenticity, Aston roped in Oscar-winner Chris Corbould, who has worked as special effects technician and supervisor on nearly a dozen James Bond films.
Aston Martin said the only modifications the DB5s will receive are "sympathetic … to ensure the highest levels of build quality and reliability".
Officially sanctioned by EON Productions, all the cars will come in one colour — Silver Birch.
"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," Dr Andy Palmer, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Aston Martin, said.
"To own an Aston Martin has long been an aspiration for James Bond fans, but to own a Silver Birch DB5, complete with gadgets and built to the highest standards in the very same factory as the original James Bond cars? Well, that is surely the ultimate collectors' fantasy."
Yes. Yes it is.
So much so that in 1965, 2.5 million fans bought the Corgi die-cast model version in its first year of production.
The real thing was unveiled at the Earls Court motor show in October 1963, as a development of the DB4 but with many updates and improvements.
According to Aston Martin, the most significant change was the introduction of a 3995cc straight six complete with three SU carburetors.
"It offered an additional 42bhp over the outgoing DB4," Aston Martin says, pushing it from 0-60mph in 7.1 seconds and all the way to a top speed of 148mph (238km/h).
Chassis changes included the adoption of the Girling disc brakes that had only been used on the DB4GT, along with 15-inch wheels.
From 1963 to 1965, 898 DB5 Coupes were built. Only the proper gadgets they had were limited to electric windows.
The first global customer deliveries for the new DB5 are scheduled for 2020.
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