The Silver Birch DB5 was crammed full of secret gadgets – many of which are total fiction, whereas some have become commonplace in modern cars. Modifications to the DB5 for the film were………..

• Front and rear extending over-rider rams
• Front firing .30 calibre Browning machine guns behind the front indicators
• Retractable tyre slashers (three eared spinners)
• Retractable rear bullet proof screen
• Radio telephone concealed in secret door compartment
• Radar scanner in racing type wing mirror, tracking screen in the cockpit
• Passenger ejector seat – roof panel jettisoned just before the seat is fired
• Oil slick ejector from nearside rear light cluster
• Triple spiked nails (calthrops) from the offside rear light cluster
• Cartridge for smoke screen released through the exhaust pipes
• Revolving number plates (BMT216A – UK, 4711-EA-62 – France and LU6789 – Switzerland)
• Armaments drawer under front driver seat
• Bullet-proof front and rear screens

Initially, the effects car, DP216/1 was the only car with the extras fitted by the film production company, DB5/1486/R was in effect just a standard road car used for much of the driving sequences. But such was the demand for the 007 DB5 to appear around the world to publicise the films, the road car, DB5/1486/R  had the 007 extras fitted by the Aston Martin factory.

Both Goldfinger DB5’s also appeared in the 1965 James Bond film, Thunderball, with the addition of a Jet pack in the boot and rear firing water cannons. By 1968, the full effects car, DP216/1, still owned by AML, was returned to the Works and all the film company fitted special effects were removed prior to sale as a normal road car. Shortly after this DP216/1 was then refitted with replica effects by a Kent coachbuilder before being sold to an American collector. This car was stolen in June 1997 from a hanger in Florida and it’s whereabouts remain unknown. It may never be seen again.

The road car, DB5/1486/R, was privately owned in the USA by a collector from 1968 for more than 40 years and was seldom seen in public. Then in 2010, the owner decided to sell and the car was offered at the RM sale in London for £2.6 million (pictured here) – to another US collector.

As demand for the original movie cars to appear at events during the 1960’s was huge, two further DB5’s were converted by the factory for promotional work.

In writing this web page I have made great use of the book ‘The Most Famous Car in the World’ by Dave Worrall, the complete history of the James Bond Aston Martin DB5 which I can highly recommend.

So far as I can reasonably say, all of the cars here are ‘real’ Aston Martins. That is that they are based on a genuine Aston Martin DB4/5/6/S chassis and an Aston Martin straight six cylinder engine as designed by Tadek Marek. I have steered away from featuring re-bodied DB7’s and avoided like the plague absolute fakes with no disenable Aston Martin parts whatsoever.

As FAS302 is on sale, it has it’s very own website. This particular car is quite interesting as it is a accurate replica of DB4GT/200/R, the very first Aston Martin Zagato.  The original front of 0200/R was damaged in a racing accident early in its life and was never repaired to it’s original ‘shark-nose’ shape. All other Zagatos had a simplified nose, so FAS302, with original spec ‘shark-nose’ is quite unique and genuinely attractive.

I must though issue a small note of warning over Zagato replicas based on genuine DB4 chassis. As the chassis has to be modified by having some length cut out, DVLA in the UK have considered theses cars of indeterminate age. As such, they would probably not be eligible for the rolling 40 year exemption from annual MOT testing and vehicle excise duty. Worse is that they may apply a ‘Q’ non-age related numberplate. 

DB5/2008/R

DB5/2008/R was for many years on display in the Smoky Mountain Car Museum but was offered for sale by RM auctions in January 2006 where it achieved a price of just over $2 million. It is believed to have been sold to a Swiss collector and was restored in Switzerland by Roos Engineering in 2010. It is now part of a private collection in the UK and was spotted at the 2023 Hampton Court Concours of Élégance.

DB5/2017/R

The final works replica, DB5/2017/R is part of the Dutch National Motor Museum, the Louwman Collection, which I have photographed both in its home and at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in August 2007.

The cars illustrated are genuine Aston Martins but were not originally built to GT specification. The process of modifying the chassis and other major modifications may make registration of these cars as ‘historic vehicles’ somewhat difficult.  As the chassis has somelength cut out, DVLA in the UK have considered theses cars of indeterminate age. As such, they would probably not be eligible for the rolling 40 year exemption from annual MOT testing and vehicle excise duty. Worse is that they may loose their original numberplate and DVLA may apply a ‘Q’ non-age related registration. 

When James Bond was reunited with the DB5, it was given the registration number, BMT214A, as if had come from the same fleet as the first car. This was, I believe that BMT216A couldn’t be used for legal reasons although it was used on the BMW 750i in ‘Tomorrow Never Dies’. The photographs below show what is believed to be DB5/1484/R of one of the 1995 stunt cars were taken during the travelling 007 exhibition whilst it was visiting the National Museum of Film, Photography and Television in Bradford during Summer 2002.

One of the stunt cars, DB5/1885/R, was sold at auction in 2001 and at that time, it became the one of the most expensive pieces of film memorabilia ever sold. The car has thankfully remained in private ownership in the UK and even has it’s own website, db5.co.uk.

The second stunt car, DB5/1484/R has been retained by EON and is believed to have also been used during the filming of ‘Skyfall‘ in 2013 and also appeared briefly in ‘Tomorrow Never Dies‘ and ‘Spectre‘.

I was able to photograph this car in May 2006 whilst it was on display in the Heritage Restorations section of Works Service at Newport Pagnell. I also saw it a few months later at Works Service where it is undergoing a restoration. To date, six different DB5’s have actually appeared in four different Bond films although I still believe a DB5 would also have appeared in ‘The World is Not Enough’ had the footage not ended up on the cutting room floor.

Launched way back in 1959, the DB4 G.T. was d esigned for the gentleman driver, equally at home on the road and the racetrack. It was evolved from the production DB4 and introduced in the same year Aston Martin scored its historic outright win in the Le Mans 24 Hours, the DB4 G.T. was a true supercar of its day. Shorter, lighter, sleeker and with a more powerful version of the legendary 3.7-litre straight-six engine, not only was the DB4 G.T. Britain’s fastest passenger sports car, it was a born winner, scoring a debut race victory at Silverstone in the hands of Sir Stirling Moss. Only 75 DB4 G.T.s were built between 1959 and 1963. Of these only eight were lightweight models. Most of which survive today, and values now comfortably exceed £3m.

Remaining faithful to the design of those original eight factory lightweights, each DB4 G.T. continuation will be built with Aston Martin Works’ unrivalled experience and exemplary attention. Employing a blend of old world craftsmanship and modern techniques, continuation cars benefit from improvements in engine performance, handling, braking and safety, with great care taken to ensure these enhancements build upon the original’s exceptional qualities while retaining its feel and character.

Underlining that authenticity are the continuation car VIN numbers, which carry on from the last original DB4 G.T. ordered – Chassis DB4GT/0202/R – for an unbroken bloodline and impeccable Newport Pagnell-built pedigree spanning half a century.

Rendering of the upcoming 2017 Aston Martin DB4 GT continuation

At its heart is a version of the celebrated Tadek Marek-designed straight-six cylinder engine with two spark plugs per cylinder, transmitting its 340bhp to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission and limited-slip differential, just as in the original DB4 G.T. Thanks to its shortened wheelbase the DB4 G.T. is a strict two-seater blessed with greater agility than the regular four-seater DB4. Its body follows the original construction, with thin-gauge aluminum panels fitted over a tubular frame. To improve the accuracy and consistency of the panels, the continuation car’s bodywork uses state-of-the-art digital technology, before being hand-finished in time-honoured tradition.

Fittingly for a car created to celebrate one of Aston Martin’s most illustrious competition models, the DB4 G.T. Continuation is built to be enjoyed on track. Aston Martin Works has created a two-year international track driving programme held at a number of the world’s finest race tracks, including the spectacular Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi. The ultimate arrive-and-drive experience, customers may also take advantage of Aston Martin’s dedicated driver training team. Comprised of expert instructors, including Aston Martin Racing’s multiple Le Mans class winner (and Goodwood Revival regular) Darren Turner, they will help customers master driving techniques from an era when track driving was more art than science.

The first of the 25 cars is due to be delivered to it’s new owner in the autumn of 2017, at a cost of around £1.5 million.

The bodywork is similar to the DB5 convertible but shares many DB6 features such as the interior trim, split front and rear bumpers and an enlarged oil cooler opening. Whilst at the back the boot lid is unswept with DB5 Convertible like rear wings mounted with the Triumph sourced DB6 style rear light clusters. Knowing these details make this car easier to identify.

In addition to the regular triple SU equiped engine, the short chassis could also be specified with the Vantage engine complete with triple Weber carburettors.

One of the cars featured below, arguably the best example of a short chassis Volante was shown on the lawn at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegence in 2013. The car achieved 2nd place in the Aston Martin Centenary class and can be seen crossing the famous ramp to recieve the award.

I first saw chassis DB5/2007R in 2010 when the car was being auctioned by RM at their annual sale in London. At that time, the car was painted in its original livery of green with tan leather. In 2011, the car was hastily prepared for the film by being painted silver and having the leather recoloured. It has been in great demand since being centre stage during the premiere of the film having been road tested my many classic car magazines.

Not sure if you can see this clearly in the photographs but Works didn’t go to the trouble of actually cutting a panel in the roof for the ejector seat. This was merely represented by a vinyl sticker tracing the edge of the non-existent hole.