Aston Martin DB5 60th Anniversary

Words: Mike Ryan

Photos: Aston Martin

Thanks to a well-known British secret agent, the DB5 is not only the most famous Aston Martin, but also one of the best-known cars of all time. This past September, Aston Martin celebrated 60 years since the DB5's introduction. Seen as an icon of British culture, design and innovation today, the DB5 also played a major role in establishing Aston Martin as one of Britain’s most desirable luxury car brands.

While Aston Martin had been around since 1922, the DB5 lineage started more recently. After tractor magnate David Brown purchased Aston Martin in 1947, the first new model under his watch was the ‘Two Litre Sports’ of 1948, which would be given the ‘DB1’ moniker later.

At the same time he purchased Aston Martin, Brown also bought Lagonda, which gave him access to a 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine that would be applied to the DB2 that followed in 1950, as well as the DB2/4 of 1953 and DB MkIII of 1957.

In 1958, the DB4 was introduced, which looked similar, but was essentially an all-new model, with a new 3.7-litre six-cylinder engine, disc brakes all round and styling by Carrozzeria Touring of Milan that included their ‘Superleggera’ lightweight construction techniques.

Compared to the preceding models, the DB4 was a solid success, with the 1,113 units built over five years (across coupe and convertible body styles) being more than double the production of any previous DB series model. The DB4 also introduced offshoots, like a tuned Vantage variant, plus GT and GT Zagato versions intended for racing.

DB5 Arrives

Most of what had applied to a series of DB4 upgrades across the late 1950s and early 1960s translated to the DB5, which had its official unveiling at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, 1963.  Externally, the DB5 looked identical to the preceding model, but had a 4.0-litre engine and introduced a 5-speed manual transmission and electric windows, with an automatic and air conditioning amongst the factory options. The larger engine delivered 282hp (210kW) and a top speed in excess of 150mph (240+km/h) in standard form, with a tuned 325hp (242kW) version available.

By early 1964, Aston Martin was on a roll. They'd been victorious at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and in the World Sportscar championship in 1959, privateers were using Aston Martins for racing, the DB4 had sold well and the DB5 was on track to do the same. Immortality was just around the corner, though.

The Bond Factor

Four months after the DB5 was launched, filming began on Goldfinger, the third film in the James Bond franchise, but the seventh in the series of novels written by Ian Fleming. When writing the book in late 1958, Fleming replaced the Bentleys that 007 had driven in previous novels with a DB MkIII. Allegedly, Fleming selected an Aston Martin as he felt it was the most sophisticated British car available at the time.

However, by early 1964, the DB MkIII had been superseded not once, but twice, so EON Productions naturally sought the latest model when shooting Goldfinger and managed to prise a couple of DB5s out of Aston Martin’s hands - a prototype for stunts and a production model for less dangerous scenes, both finished in Silver Birch paint. Back then, 007 wasn’t the money-spinning powerhouse that it is today, so Aston Martin were reluctant to provide the cars, but eventually agreed.

Already a stunning car in standard form, the abundance of gadgets in Bond’s DB5 made it even more memorable, with its starring role in Goldfinger guaranteeing its place in history and ensuring return appearances in seven subsequent Bond films, including the most recent, No Time to Die.

Beyond Bond, real life celebrity DB5 owners have included Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Peter Sellers, King (then Prince) Charles and, more recently, Elle MacPherson, Ralph Lauren and Jay Kay, to name a few. Canadian billionaire, Lawrence Stroll is also a DB5 owner and in a “Remington moment,” liked it so much, he bought a stake in Aston Martin in 2020 and took on the role of Executive Chairman.

Small Numbers, Big Hit

Today, the DB5’s popularity is out of all proportion to its presence in the automotive market when it was new. Unlike the Mini, of which more than 5 million were made from 1959 to 2000, just 1,022 examples of the DB5 were built before it was superseded by the DB6 in 1965 – 887 coupes and 123 convertibles, plus 12 wagon conversions produced by Harold Radford coachbuilders. Some sources quote a higher total, but 1,022 is the figure provided by Aston Martin.

Fuelled in large measure by its James Bond connection, the DB5 remains highly sought after today and arguably the most desirable British car of all time. For example, a screen-used DB5 from Goldfinger and Thunderball sold at auction in 2010 for £2.9 million (AU$4.9 million approx.), while in 2018, Aston Martin and EON Productions collaborated on the production of 25 authentic DB5 replicas with all the Bond gadgets, priced at £2.75 million (AU$4.9M approx.) apiece.

The Bond association also means that most of those seeking a DB5 today want one in Silver Birch, even though many other colours were available when new, including Caribbean Pearl on the car pictured.

Celebrations at Goodwood

With the 2023 Goodwood Revival neatly coinciding with the 60th Anniversary of the DB5 in September, Aston Martin used the occasion to present an exceptional classic DB5 alongside their latest DB12 ‘Super Tourer,’ demonstrating the David Brown bloodline that now stretches back more than seven decades.

“The David Brown era gave us so many great Aston Martin sports cars, but none more recognisable, revered and desired as the DB5, which laid the foundations of our identity as a British luxury brand synonymous with style, performance, and exclusivity,” said Lawrence Stroll.

“It is only right that, as it turns 60, we take a moment to look back and reflect on this car’s incredible role in our storied 110-year heritage. We’re incredibly proud that the DB lineage continues today with the critically acclaimed DB12, which like those before it, is a celebration of all we love about British hand-built sportscars, with a new injection of the latest technology and highest levels of performance.”