Aston Martin restarts production of the DB5 Goldfinger Continuation

29 Jun 2020 | Updated on: 27 Sep 2022 |By Dominic Jeffares

The vehicle comes with a rear smoke screen delivery system, bullet-resistant rear shield, simulated twin front machine gun and revolving number plates

In recent times, Aston Martin has taken more of a battering than its most famous agent in action. Amid a disastrous IPO offering back in late 2018, the recent sacking of its CEO and a cash injection of £262 million from Racing Point F1 team-owner Lawrence Stroll, the British carmaker has had to do some serious soul searching. One way the marque is hoping to reverse its fortunes, it seems, is through the production of limited-edition, big-ticket gimmicks.

Much of Aston Martin’s appeal, of course, lies in the creation of some of the world’s most desirable front-engined grand tourers. Ever since the DB5’s prominent appearance in Sean Connery’s Goldfinger in 1964, early editions of the ‘most famous car in the world’ regularly command prices of more than half a million pounds at auction – the actual DB5 from the movie, previously owned by JCB billionaire Lord Bamford, sold for £5.2 million last year.

Setting you back £2.75 million, Aston Martin Works (the carmaker’s special operations division dedicated to historic vehicles) has restarted production of the DB5 for the first time in more than half a century. Twenty-five examples are being built, with each expected to take more than 4,500 hours to complete. Specifications of the vehicle are as faithful to the original as possible; under the bonnet, there’s a naturally-aspirated 4.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine, mated to a five-speed ZF manual gearbox and a mechanical limited-slip differential. Hand-built aluminium panels wrap around an authentic DB5 mild-steel chassis, employing many of the artisan techniques used by the original coachbuilders, Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera.

The new cars will feature working ‘Goldfinger’ gadgets developed by Aston Martin and Oscar-winning special effects guru Chris Corbould OBE

This being a Bond car, there are a host of gadgets that would do Q Branch proud, many of which are fully functional (within the parameters of the law). These include a rear smoke screen delivery system, bullet-resistant rear shield, simulated twin front machine gun and revolving number plates. Inside, Aston Martin Works has fitted a simulated radar screen tracker map, an armrest and centre console-mounted switchgear and an under-seat hidden weapons/storage tray. For the safety of the public, future owners of these very rare DB5 reproductions will have to play with their toys on their large country estates – despite the price, the vehicles are not road legal.

‘Job 1’ DB5 Goldfinger Continuation car is under construction – the first in a strictly limited run of 25 customer cars
Fewer than 900 examples of the DB5 were built by the brand between 1963 and 1965
The upcoming Bond film No Time To Die will feature Bond’s trusty companion

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