Although cars seldom play a starring role in the movies, they often become extensions of the main characters themselves and visual icons for the entire film. Automobiles often play critical roles in films, creating excitement and unbridled action. Even non-gearheads can appreciate the cool factor they add to films. A select few have become movie legends.
What would Batman be without the Batmobile, and who can forget Steve McQueen getting airborne on the hilly streets of San Francisco in his Ford Mustang Fastback?
Perhaps the most iconic movie vehicle of all time is the 1964 Aston Martin DB5, first driven by James Bond (played by Sean Connery) in the film, Goldfinger.
Bond is first introduced to his car walking through the M16 basement lab run by Q. He witnesses a few gadgets immediately, a tear-gas generating parking meter, a machine-gun resistant jacket, and a grenade flask, before asking about his car.
Bond: Where's my Bentley?
Q: Oh, it's had its day, I'm afraid.
Bond: Well, it's never let me down.
Q: M's orders, 007.
Q: You'll be using this Aston Martin DB5…with modifications. Now pay attention, please!
Q explains each feature in detail, making the film’s viewers sit on the edge of their seats in anticipation of Bond using each gadget to defeat Goldfinger villains.
The DB5 was A Supercar for Its Era
While the 1964 Aston Martin was considered an ideal Grand Touring car, it could have been labeled a supercar by the standards of the day. Regarded as one of the most iconic cars of all time, the successor to the DB4 model was the second “Superleggera” produced by Italian coachbuilders Carrozzeria Touring.
The 4.0-liter all-aluminum engine produced 282 bhp, giving the stylish sports car an acceleration of 0 - 60 mph in 8 seconds and a top speed of 145 mph. However, shortly after the DB5 was released, Aston Martin upgraded the carburetors and installed hotter cams resulting in a breathtaking 325 horsepower.
The DB5 was fitted with a refined, comfortable, and luxurious interior. The interior featured full leather trim, reclining seats, wool pile carpets, electric windows, twin fuel tanks, and wire wheels.
Only sixty-five of the new Vantage coupes were produced between 1963 and 1965, making them a rare find for today’s collector.
Special Features and Gadgets Made the DB5 a Unique Sports Car
While the standard features of the 1964 Aston Martin DB5 were more than sufficient to distinguish the British sports car from most of its competitors, the gadgets and modifications of the Goldfinger car made the film version unique.
Revolving Number Plates: Three license plate numbers were available, United Kingdom, France, and Switzerland. The change to local plate numbers attracted less attention and could confuse Bond’s pursuers.
GPS Dashboard: Like a modern GPS, the mapping mechanism and a homing device placed in Goldfinger’s Rolls Royce allowed Bond to track him to Switzerland.
Tire Slashers: Bond uses his tire slashers to destroy a Mustang driven by Tilly Masterson, the girl who attempts to shoot Goldfinger.
Smoke Screen: Bond deploys a smoke screen when he is chased by Auric Enterprises security men, causing one of them to crash into a tree.
Oil Slick: Chased by Goldfinger’s security cars, Bond engages his oil slick gadget, spewing oil from the rear lights of the DB5. The pursuer skids on the oil and runs off of a cliff.
Rear Bullet-Proof Screen: Bond uses his bullet-proof screen to deflect bullets from Goldfinger’s security men and machine-gun fire from an old lady.
Front Wing Machine Guns: the machine guns are fired when Bond is fooled into thinking he is approaching another car, but the headlights are his own reflected in a mirror at the end of his path.
Arm Rest Controls: The DB5’s defense mechanism switches gave Bond control of the oil slick, smoke screen, front wing machine guns, and rear bullet-proof screen.
Ejector Seat: Q explains the ejector seat to Bond.
Q: Now, this one I'm particularly keen about. You see the gear lever here?
Q: Now, if you take the top off, you'll find a little red button.
Q: Whatever you do, don't touch it!
Bond: And why not?
Q: Because you'll release this section of the roof and engage and fire the passenger ejector seat.
Bond: Ejector seat? You're joking!
Q: I never joke about my work, 007
The Aston Martin DB5 Appeared in Eight James Bond Films
The British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) equipped James Bond with a variety of cars spanning twenty-five films and fifty-eight years, including the yet to be released No Time to Die.
However, the Aston Martin DB5 is the most recognized James Bond car. The vehicle was introduced in EON Productions' Goldfinger in 1964 and went on to appear in Thunderball (1965), GoldenEye (1995), Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), Casino Royale (2006), Skyfall (2012), Spectre (2015), and No Time To Die (2020).
The Sean Connery Aston Martin DB5 Set the Standard
According to Radio Times, Sean Connery played James Bond better than all the other actors cast in the same role. In August 2020, he was voted by over 14,000 fans as the favorite 007 super spy. Connery first played James Bond in Dr. No in 1962 and appeared in five other official films and the 1983 unofficial film, Never Say Never Again.
But it was in Goldfinger that Connery was first seen driving the Aston Martin DB5.
Although Ian Fleming’s novel described 007 driving DB Mark III, the film production crew opted for Aston Martin’s newest model, the DB5, for the movie. The model was so new, the film crew used the original DB5 prototype and another standard car used for stunts.
After Goldfinger was released, Aston Martin built two more modified cars for publicity tours. One of the cars was auctioned for more than $2 million in 2006. Another car used for the film production sold at auction in August 2019 for $6.4 million.
The Pierce Brosnan Aston Martin DB5 Boasted New Gadgets
After a thirty-year absence from the 007 film series, the Aston Martin DB5 reappeared when James Bond, played by Pierce Brosnan, drives the supercar in 1995 spy thriller, GoldenEye.
The DB5 was equipped with some new gadgets, including a radio that doubled as a communication device and printer. the champagne cooler concealed under the center armrest, no doubt, allowed Bond to enjoy his favorite drink, a “vodka martini shaken, not stirred.”
Three different DB5s were used for filming Goldeneye. The Aston Martin displaying the license plate number BMT 214A also returned in the Pierce Brosnan movie Tomorrow Never Dies (1997).
The Daniel Craig Era Aston Martin DB5 Gets Rebuilt
Daniel Craig’s James Bond wins an Aston Martin DB5 in a poker game against archrival, Alex Dimitrios, in the 2006 film Casino Royale. Unlike the classic British vehicle, the car was left-hand drive and donned Bahamian number plates.
The traditional DB5, complete with a full set of gadgets, made a reappearance in the 2012 film, Skyfall. One-third size miniature replica cars created using 3D printing techniques were used when the vehicle was destroyed by heavy machine gunfire.
In the sequel, Spectre, Q painstakingly reconstructs the DB5, and in the final scene, Bond retrieves the restored car and drives off with his new girlfriend, Madeleine Swann.
The Aston Martin DB5 will appear again in the film, No Time to Die, scheduled for release on April 2nd, 2021. Eight different vehicles were used for filming the chase sequences shot in the southern Italian town of Sapri.
Sources: studiobinder.com, prestigeonline.com, jamesbond.fandom.com, theglobeandmail.com