Aston Martin DB5 & James Bond’s DB5 | DRO4CARS
This article is suggested by our top reader Jane Watkins, Uttoxeter, United Kingdon.
Thank you, Jane!
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| 1963-1966 Aston Martin DB5 in the most popular Silver Birch color from James Bond Movie Goldfinger (1964) | Image: Aston Martin |
FIRST ASSOCIATION WITH THE ASTON MARTIN DB5
One of the most popular cars in the world is
the Aston Martin DB5. It’s most known from the James Bond movies. It had
happened that the DB5 (1963) and the Goldfinger
(1964) are released almost at the same time. We all know the Aston Martin DB5
and maybe most of us associated the car with the movie but the questions are:
·
What
do we know about the DB5?
·
Does
the Aston Martin DB5 is the original car from Ian Fleming's novel Goldfinger (1959)?
·
Obviously
– not, but which Aston Martin model is James Bond’s car in the novel?
For sure, I’ll write about the gadgets of James
Bond’s DB5 and something more. I would like to present the Aston Martin DB5 as
a car, as a model. Because it had happened that the DB5 itself plays a role and
it’s like living only in the movies. Moreover, there are 25 all-new, fully
rebuild Aston Martin DB5 cars. Do they are road-worthy?
WHAT CAR IS THE ASTON MARTIN DB5?
The Aston Martin DB5 is in production from 1963
to 1965 as for this period only 1,021 units are produced. The car
classification of the DB5 is Grand Tourer as the most popular body style is
2-door, 2+2 coupe. Well, there are some 123 units 2-door convertible versions
of the Aston Martin DB5 and also special 2-door shooting brake, produced in 13
units only.
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| 1963-1966 Aston Martin DB5 rear view | Image: Aston Martin |
WHAT’S THE ENGINE OF THE ASTON MARTIN DB5?
The original 2-door coupe Aston Martin DB5 is
the new version of the Aston Martin DB4, Series 5 (a.k.a Mark5) which by the
way looks almost the same as its successor DB6. However, the DB5 has an
all-aluminum 4.0L, in-line 6-cylinder engine with three SU carburetors. The max
power is 282 bhp and the max speed is 233 km/h (145 mph). Interestingly, the
DB5 has an oil cooler.
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| 1963 -1966 Aston Martin DB5 4.0L I6 Engine | Image: Aston Martin |
ALL GEARBOXES AVAILABLE FOR THE ASTON MARTIN DB5
The Aston Martin DB5 uses a fully synchromesh 5-speed
ZF transmission, excepting some of the very first units which were equipped
with a 4-speed manual gearbox with an overdrive - optionally available.
Usually, the overdrive is a separate gearbox operated by a separate shift lever
thus the power of the engine is directly transmitted to the rear wheels as back
in the years most of the cars are produced with rear-wheel drive as well as the
DB5. Later the function of the overdrive gearbox is replaced with the 5th
gear of a 5-speed transmission and the last gear of any other gearboxes.
However, back to the DB5 gearboxes - there was an optional BorgWarner 3-speed
automatic gearbox.
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| 1963 - 1966 Aston Martin DB5 gearstick of a 5-speed manual ZF gearbox | Image: Aston Martin |
HOW THE ASTON MARTIN DB5 IS BUILD
The Aston Martin DB5 is designed by the Italian
design studio Carrozeria Touring Superleggera. The body is made under the
Superleggera patent of the studio as it’s used magnesium-alloy. In Italian, the Superleggera is a term that means Super Light. According to the
production capabilities during the 60s, the weight of the Aston Martin DB5 is
1,502 kg (3,311 lb). The Aston Martin DB5 has a live rear axle.
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| The production of the Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger Continuation model | Image: Aston Martin |
THE ASTON MARTIN DB5 EQUIPMENT
The equipment of the DB5 includes reclining
seats, wool pile carpets, electric windows, double fuel tanks, chrome wire
wheels. The interior is in full leather.
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| 1963 - 1966 Aston Martin DB5 dashboard and the reclining seats (unfocused foreground) | Image: Aston Martin |
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| 1963 - 1966 Aston Martin DB5 full leather interior, rear seats | Image: Aston Martin |
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| 1963 - 1966 Aston Martin DB5 - chrome wire wheels | Image: Aston Martin |
THE ASTON MARTIN DB5 VANTAGE
The Aston Martin DB5 Vantage is introduced in
1964. The DB5 Vantage uses 3 Weber carburetors. The camshaft is changed and
thus the max power is increased to 330 hp @ 5,500 rpm. Driving a car with 330
hp, no airbags, no ABS, no traction control… phew… There are only 65 units of
the Aston Martin DB5 Vantage.
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| The Aston Martin DB5 Vantage | Image: Ed Callow |
THE ASTON MARTIN DB5 CONVERTIBLE
The production of the Aston Martin DB5
Convertible is from 1963 to 1965. The DB5 Convertible is produced in only 123
units as only 19 of them are made in left-hand drive. The factory Vantage
engine is mounted in some 12 cars as there is a rumor that at least one car is factory
equipped with the DB6 Vantage engine. If you are looking for such rare models,
there are even more rare options like the factory option steel removable hard
top fitted by Works Service before delivery to the client.
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| The Aston Martin DB5 Convertible has some differences like the whole front and rear bumpers compared to the DB5 Volante where they are split. | Image: Shane D. Mattaway |
The Aston Martin DB5 Volante
The Aston Martin DB5 Volante is a convertible
version in production for exactly one year – from October 1965 to October 1966.
The DB5 Volante is also called “Short Chassis” but only in comparison with,
back then, the newcomer Aston Martin DB6. The Aston Martin DB5 Volante uses
some of the DB6 features like the split front and rear bumpers, and as well as
the rear lights which are originally for the Triumph TR4. Only these 37 DB5
Volante convertibles produced in that specific period are using the Volante badge.
As later, the Volante name is given to other Aston Martin Convertibles but not
before October 1965.
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| 1965 - 1966 Aston Martin DB5 VOLANTE a.k.a Short Chassis compared only with the Aston Martin DB6. | Image: Aston Martin |
THE ASTON MARTIN DB5 SHOOTING-BRAKE
The Aston Martin DB5 Shooting-Brake was a
custom factory-made model requested by Sir David Brown, who was an English
industrialist and at some point owner of the car manufacturers Aston Martin and
Lagonda - back then separate car brand and owned by Aston Martin from 1947.
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| Aston Martin DB5 Shooting-Brake produced in only 11 or 12 units. | Image: edvvc |
Anyway, back to the Aston Martin DB5
Shooting-Brake which is produced in only 11 or 12 units, custom modified by
independent body-maker Harold Radford for Aston Martin. The DB5 Shooting-Brake
model also uses Triumph’s taillight just like the Aston Martin DB5 Volante and
the Aston Martin DB6.
An Aston Martin DB5 Shooting-Brake model is
sold for a record US$ 1.765 m / £ 1.456 m in August
2019. Then the DB5 Shooting-Brake become the most valuable model in its class.
JAMES BOND’S a.k.a Agent 007 DB5
At the time of writing the Goldfinger novel in January and February 1958, Ian Fleming had
chosen the Aston Martin DB Mark III for James Bond. At the time of production
of the movie, the Aston Martin DB5 is the upcoming model so from a commercial
point of view it was a nice move to advertise the car in the movie. And
nowadays, thanks to that James Bond movie the Aston Martin DB5 is the most
recognizable model in the world.
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| The Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger Continuation model is limited series of 25 hand-made cars. | Image: Aston Martin |
The James Bond DB5 would be nothing without
John Stears. He was the person who modified the Aston Martin DB5 to become
James Bond’s car. Now, introducing James Bond’s DB5 as it is in the movie: windscreen – bulletproof as on the side and
rear window; revolving number plates
– naturally, valid all countries (James Bond number plates "LU 6789",
"4711-EA-62", "BMT 216A"); audio-visual dashboard reception
of the transmitting device homer, range 150 miles. The defense mechanism
controls include several features strictly created for James Bond’s DB5 as
follows smoke screen; oil slick, rear
bulletproof screen, and left and right front wing machine guns. Another
feature of Agent 007’s DB5 is operated from the gear lever by a red button
hidden under a cap marked the positions of the gears. That red button releases
the passenger section of the roof and
engage and fire the passenger ejector seat – phew. Then the passenger is
behind the board. Did I miss a feature or features?! – Write me in the
comments.
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| The Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger Continuation - revolving number plates "LU 6789", "4711-EA-62", "BMT 216A". | Image: Aston Martin |
We have to pay special attention to the original James
Bond’s DB5. The gear stick is marked with 4 gears. This means that Agent 007’s
Aston Martin DB5 is one of the very first DB5 models that are equipped with a
4-speed manual gearbox. The
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The Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger Continuation Gear Stick. We have to pay attention to the details and to mark that in the Goldfinger (1964) that DB5 is with a 4-speed manual transmission. | Image: Aston Martin |
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| The Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger Continuation - Gear Stick Red Button. Another difference between the original DB5 Goldfinger model and the new one is that - the red button. It activates the ejector passenger seat on the very first DB5 and on the new model that button activates the wings machine guns. | Image: Aston Martin |
The Aston Martin DB5 has four units that are
for the Goldfinger (1964). Two of those DB5s are used for
creating the movie and the other two cars are used only for promotional
purposes.
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| The Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger Continuation - the audio-visual dashboard reception of the transmitting device as it's presented in the Goldfinger (1964). Nowadays the DB5 Goldfinger Continuation is equipped with a modern GPS. Someone may say - A very useful gadget for a not-road-legal car. But! The feelings that something exists and works are the most important details in this DB5 model. | Image: Aston Martin |
Interestingly, the first filming model Aston Martin
DB5 for James Bond movies was in Dubonnet Red color. The Dubonnet is a sort of
sweet French red wine – so, what’s the color of the wine that’s the color of
the car and never mix them up. That first filming DB5 has chassis number
DP/216/1. That DB5 has another role in the film The Cannonball Run (1981). Unfortunately, that particular Aston
Martin DB5 is stolen in 1997 from the last owner in Florida and the car is
still missing.
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| The Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger Continuation - Gadget Controls are placed in the armrest between the front seats |
The second filming Aston Martin DB5 has chassis
number DB5/1486/R. That DB5 doesn’t have any gadgets and is used only for
driving scenes. The gadgets are added later, after the filming and that DB5
model is used for promotions. Both Aston Martin DB5 models DB5/216/1 and
DB5/1486/R are displayed at the 1965 New York World’s Fair to promote the Goldfinger (1964) movie.
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| The Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger Continuation - Smoke Screen | Image: Aston Martin |
In the 1995 GoldenEye film, another
Aston Martin DB5 is used. Its registration plate is BMT 214A. Instead of spy
gadgets that DB5 is equipped with a champagne cooler in the armrest and a fax
machine. All of that is because this Aston Martin DB5 is presented as the
personal James Bond car. А significant scene from the GoldenEye (1995) is the car chasing between James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 versus the
Ferrari F355 driven by…. Write me in the comments.
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| The Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger Continuation - Oil Slick. For safety, instead of oil, that system works with water. | Image: Aston Martin |
During the production of the GoldenEye (1995) were used three DB5s.
Later, that James Bond’s DB5 has a small role in the next movie Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) and it’s set for an episodic
appearance in The World is Not Enough (1999)
but most of the scenes are cut in the post-production.
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| The Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger Continuation - Machine Guns. | Image: Aston Martin |
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| The Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger Continuation - Rear Bulletproof Screen. | Image: Aston Martin |
OTHER ROLES OF THE ASTON MARTIN DB5 IN THE JAMES BOND MOVIES
An Aston Martin DB5 with Bahamian number plate
56526 which is a left-hand drive model has a role in Casino Royale (2006). Another silver Aston Martin DB5 with the
original BMT 216A number plate is used in the Skyfall (2012) that coincides with the 50th anniversary
of the first James Bond movie Dr. No (1962).
That DB5 from the Skyfall (2012) movie is destroyed at the climactic finale to
be fully rebuilt during the Spectre (2015).
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| The Aston Martin DB5 - Bahamian Number Plates; Bond (Daniel Craig) and Solange in the Aston Martin DB5 in Casino Royale. | Photo © United Artists, Danjaq LLC; Source: www.jamesbondlifestyle.com |
EIGHT REPLICA ASTON MARTIN DB5 ARE MADE
For the No
Time To Die (2021) movie, eight replicas of Aston Martin DB5 are made and
used as stunt cars.
THE ASTON MARTIN DB5 GOLDFINGER CONTINUATION
25 new Aston Martin DB5 units are remade. All
models include all gadgets that the first-ever James Bond’s DB5 has from the Goldfinger (1964) movie. For the
reproduction of the DB5, Aston Martin uses the same manufactures whenever is
possible like ZF Friedrichshafen for the gearbox and Connolly Leather supplies
the interior. The new Aston Martin DB5
is handmade – just like in the 60s as well as the color remains the same –
Silver Birch finish.
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| The Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger Continuation - a model that could be driven on a race track, for example. | Image: Aston Martin |
For me is a little bit confusing because I
can’t find information about which one is the producer of the 4-speed manual
gearbox available for the very first units of the Aston Martin DB5. So, that
I’m feeling that the 4-speed gearbox is produced by someone else and later the
5-speed manual produced by ZF is used for the DB5. If you do know more about
the Aston Martin DB5 models – write me in the comments.
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| The Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger Continuation - During Car Manufacturing |
HOW MUCH IS AN ORIGINAL ASTON MARTIN DB5 WORTH?
Or What is the 1964 Aston
Martin DB5 Price?
At the time of writing this article
about the Aston Martin DB5, December 27th, 2021 with a brief preview
of listings - the asking prices are above US$ 600,000 and the highest price is
ap. US$ 1,416,974 / €1,250,000. That
high-priced model is a red 1964 Aston Martin DB5 as it had three different
owners and the car needs some restorations to be made. By the way, several
listings below US$ 1M look in very good condition.
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| 1963 - 1966 Aston Martin DB5 | Image: Aston Martin |
As we know that the first Aston Martin DB5 is stolen from its last owner in Florida, in 1997, the second filming DB5, DB5/1486/R with number plates “LU 6789” or “4711-EA-62” or “BMT 216A” is sold to Harry Yeaggy by RM Auctions for US$4.6m in 2010.
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| 1963 - 1966 Aston Martin DB5 - Original Central Console. | Image: Aston Martin |
The first publicity Aston Martin
DB5, DB5/2017/R belongs to Louwman Museum in The Hague. The second publicity
DB5, DB5/2008/R is sold to an unknown buyer by RM Sotherby for US$ 6.4m in
August 2019.
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| 1963 - 1966 Aston Martin DB5 - Instrument Cluster. | Image: Aston Martin |
The Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger Continuation is priced at £ 2.75m, plus taxes. As the rebuild of the DB5 Goldfinger is made in the exact
way of hand-made producing cars in the early ‘60s and it doesn’t complain any
of nowadays standard equipment like ABS, ESP, Airbags, and so on, the Aston
Martin DB5 Goldfinger Continuation
models of 25 units are not road legal. It’s a real-size toy. However, you can
enjoy the ride of the Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger
Continuation model on a race track for example. By the way, with the renewal
of the DB5 model, you can have some spare parts for the original Aston Martin
DB5. If you want to drive a road-legal car the option is to buy one from the ‘60s
DB5. With the renewed Aston Martin DB5 model that has more collection value,
there are new spare parts for the real old DB5s. Here, it’s an option to buy a
real Aston Martin DB5 and to restore yourself or to get one that is completely restored
at a higher price. Due to the availability of the new spare parts for the original
DB5 model, it’s the price is going to grow more and more.
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| 1963 - 1966 Aston Martin DB5 - Side View. | Image: Aston Martin |
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| 1963 - 1966 Aston Martin DB5 - Rear View Details - DB5 badge and tail lights. | Image: Aston Martin |
