Aston Martin’s gadget-packed £3.3m (RM17m+) DB5 is complete
There are toys, and then there are toys. This is the latter. In the words of Aston Martin Works boss Paul Spires, this continuation Goldfinger DB5 is one of “the most desirable toys ever built for 25 very lucky buyers worldwide”.
That’s right folks, the car we told you about in 2018 and again in 2019 is now finally being built, with the first of the run having just been completed after 4,500 hours of ‘meticulous construction’.
“The ‘Job 1’ DB5 represents not only another significant design and engineering success, but also becomes the first new DB5 to be built by Aston Martin in more than half a century,” we’re told. Exciting times indeed.
If you need a recap, Aston’s continuation DB5 is basically a brand-new replica of the DB5 that appeared in Goldfinger, and Aston is going to great lengths – working alongside Bond production company EON – to ensure it has a full suite of gadgets.
Well, £3.3million (approx. RM17.73million) for a non-road-legal Aston, you’d certainly hope so. Click on for a guided tour and a sneaky glimpse of said gadgets in action…
Rear smoke screen delivery system
When we checked out a prototype of this last year, it really worked, delivering a thick cloud of white smoke via a small metal box.
Rear simulated oil slick delivery system
Naturally, you won’t be able to squirt actual real oil from the back of your non-road-legal Aston Martin DB5, because that’s just not cricket. However, it’ll likely be water - as displayed here - possibly dyed black or brown for the full effect.
Revolving number plates front and back
And they’ll be the same numberplates used in Goldfinger. Nice.
Simulated twin front machine guns
Yes folks, it’s 2020, and a brand-new Aston Martin is a car originally designed in the 1960s with fake machine guns.
Special effects maestro Chris Corbould – who’s worked on some of the biggest action films (and of course loads of Bond movies) – has formulated a replica Browning that emerges from the headlights, with a little flashing light to simulate firing.
Bulletproof rear shield
This may or may not be bulletproof.
Battering rams front and rear
Well, you wouldn’t want to ruin the lovely Silver Birch paintjob, would you? Incidentally, that’s the only colour on offer for the 25 continuation DB5s, because that’s what Connery drove in Goldfinger. Fine by us.
Simulated tyre slasher
Again, this’ll be a fake one, because… because you can’t slash people’s tyres. You know the rules. There’s no pics of this just yet, so instead ogle the delightfully crafted remote controls for some of the DB5’s other goodies.
Removable passenger seat roof panel
An option, sure, but surely one you’d want? It isn’t, sadly, connected to a little red button that automatically ejects an unwanted passenger. Perhaps after 2020’s lockdown, you’ll be thankful for all the company you can get.
Radar screen tracker map
Pretend you’re 007 in, erm, your own private driveway, by… tracking the other inhabitants of your house.
Built-in carphone
And then perhaps call them via the telephone nestled in the driver’s door. Yep, all good fun for your £3.3million (RM17.73million).
An engine
Possibly the best gadget of the lot? Aston’s fitting a 4.0-litre naturally-aspirated straight six, with three carbs, an oil cooler, and a six-plug head. We’re told it’ll make 290bhp, matched up to a five-speed manual gearbox and rear-wheel-drive (plus a mechanical limited slip diff). Perfect for when you have to pretend you’re on the run.
Some suspension and steering
Again, another trick gadget involves the fitment of coilovers, a live rear axle, rack and pinion steering (unassisted, for the ultimate arm workout), steel disc brakes and an anti-roll bar up front.
“Obviously we have not, as a business, made a new DB5 for more than 50 years,” explains Aston heritage programme manager Clive Wilson, “so to be involved in the building of these cars, which will go on to form part of Aston Martin’s history, is something I’m sure all of us will be telling our grandkids about.”
