Aston Martin starts production of DB5 ‘Goldfinger’ Continuation cars
Fifty-five years after the last Aston Martin DB5 was built, production is underway again, with work commencing on a 25-unit limited-edition of ‘DB5 Goldfinger Continuation’ cars at the Newport Pagnell factory in May.
“Seeing the first customer car move painstakingly through the intricate production process we have created really is quite a thrill,” said Aston Martin Heritage Programme Manager Clive Wilson.
“Obviously we have not, as a business, made a new DB5 for more than 50 years, 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!”
Created in association with EON Productions, producers of the James Bond films, the DB5 Goldfinger Continuation cars were announced last year and are the latest product of Aston Martin’s Continuation car programme which began in 2017 with the DB4 GT Continuation.
Work is taking place at Aston Martin’s Heritage Division headquarters, with each DB5 Goldfinger Continuation taking around 4,500 hours to build. Each car will be built to the highest possible standards, using a blend of Old World craftsmanship and modern engineering.
Being “Bond cars”, each unit will also feature cutting-edge gadgets developed in association with Chris Corbould OBE, the special effects supervisor who has worked on more than a dozen Bond films.
The list of Bond-inspired gadgets should be familiar to fans of the classic 1964 film. Of course, most of these are purely for show and, unfortunately, there’s no ejector seat.
Exterior:
- Rear smoke screen delivery system
- Rear simulated oil slick delivery system
- Revolving number plates front and rear (triple plates)
- Simulated twin front machine guns
- Bullet resistant rear shield
- Battering rams front and rear
- Simulated tyre slasher
- Removable passenger seat roof panel (optional)
Interior:
- Simulated radar screen tracker map
- Telephone in driver’s door
- Gear knob actuator button
- Armrest and centre console-mounted switchgear
- Under-seat hidden weapons/storage tray
- Remote control for gadget activation
All the new cars are authentic reproductions of the DB5 seen on screen in Goldfinger, with aluminium exterior body panels formed over an authentic DB5 mild steel chassis structure. Under the bonnet there’s a 4.0-litre six-cylinder engine with a six-plug head, three SU carburettors and oil cooler. Aston Martin says the naturally-aspirated inline six is capable of generating approximately 290hp (216kW). The five-speed ZF manual transmission is authentic to the original car, as is the mechanical limited slip differential.
Servo-assisted hydraulic Girling-type steel disc brakes, rack and pinion steering – which does not feature assistance – and a suspension set-up comprising coil over spring and damper units with anti-roll bar at the front, and a live axle rear suspension with radius arms and Watt’s linkage, complete the dynamic package.
Some modifications and enhancements have been made to improve build quality and reliability. All 25 units will be finished in Silver Birch paint like the original movie car.
Paul Spires, President of Aston Martin Works said: “We are making, perhaps, some of the most desirable ‘toys’ ever built for 25 very lucky buyers worldwide.
“Creating the DB5 Goldfinger Continuation cars and working with EON Productions and special effects supervisor, Chris Corbould, is something truly unique and a real career highlight for everyone involved here at Aston Martin Works.”
Despite a price tag of £2.75 million (AU$5.0M approx.) and being illegal for road use in most countries, almost all of the 25 DB5 Goldfinger Continuation cars have been sold. The first units are due to reach customers in the second half of 2020.
