An association of icons since the 1960s, the Aston Martin DB5 is certainly James Bond’s car, but above all it is the epitome of Aston Martin craftsmanship.
The History Of The DB5
When industrialist David Brown took over the management of Aston Martin in 1947, the man imagined a logo that lived up to the history of the team. Placed at the heart of a pair of outstretched wings similar to Egyptian mythology, the initials DB underscore the rebirth of a phoenix.
Many Aston Martins have indeed ended up stamped, or worse destroyed, in previous circuits. And this time, David Brown is determined to leave only prestige and exception in the memory of the whole world. To do this, he entrusted John Wyer with the running of the project called DB5.
The ambition is simple: make a clean sweep of the past and introduce a new car that is both powerful and creative!
The man then called on the master of Italian bodywork, Carrozzeria Touring, to create a highly styled body. The long-time Ferrari partner is thinking here of an aluminum body rich in its “Superleggera” process … Already present on the DB4 Vantage and GTC, spherical headlights underline the curve while sensuality of the DB5.
Upturned T-grille and chrome arrow on the sides, the aesthetic characteristic Aston Martin was born. And no question of reducing engine power. In this dress of finesse and elegance comes to nestle an imposing mechanism; a 4-liter straight-six. Edited in 1963, the car then seems ideally suited for an icon in the making …
The James Bond Car
Albert Broccoli and Harry Saltzman are indeed on the verge of adapting Ian Fleming’s James Bond to cinema. In his book, the Brit already talks about an Aston Martin DB3 – but they want a more modern, more mischievous version! After negotiations, Aston Martin agreed to entrust them with the very first DB5 ever produced.
First dyed in red, it was later in a Silver Birch version that Broccoli and Saltzman signed the iconic James Bond car in Goldfinger. In the hands of art director Ken Adam and special effects genius John Stear, the Aston Martin becomes the legendary James Bond DB5 – 13 gadgets plus an ejection seat!
In 2018, the myth is such that Aston Martin produced 25 models of the racing car dear to James Bond …
And for the new James Bond, No Time To Die, Aston Martin must rethink its bespoke icon. The production asked David King, head of Aston Martin Special Ops, “This movie needs a DB5 because it fits the plot well. And we think depending on what we’re going to do with it, we’re going to need eight cars, all capable of doing extreme stunts. And we need it in six months. “
A faster, more agile and more resilient version of the 1963 classic was thus born. She was indeed able to withstand the chase scenes already said to be the most intense in Bond history. The breathtaking meeting is now set for November 2020 …
The Aston Martin DB5, Some Key Dates
2020: The Aston Martin DB5 stars from the movie No Time To Die.
2018: The Aston Martin DB5 from the James Bond film GoldenEye is for sale.
2018: James Bond’s Aston Martin is soon available in Lego.
2018: James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 goes up for auction for almost $ 3 million.
2017: James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 is on display at Rétromibile.
2017: The 007 DB5 is on display at the Beaulieu Automobile Museum.
2017: Paul McCartney’s DB5 is auctioned.
2017: James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 lands in Paris.
2016: The “James Bond 007” exhibition showcases James Bond cars.
2012: The DB5 appears in Skyfall.
2006: The DB5 appears in Casino Royale.
1997: The DB5 appears in Never Dies.
1995: The DB5 appears in GoldenEye.
1966: A scale model, the size of a pedal car, was given to the children of Queen Elizabeth II.
1965: Fashion designer Ralph Lauren offers himself an Aston Martin DB5.
1965: The DB5 appears in Thunderball.
1964: The DB5 appears in Golfinger.
1963: The Aston Martin DB5 is created.