Aston Martin has announced plans to launch 25 recreations of its classic DB5 grand tourer, the car used in the 1964 Bond film Goldfinger.
The replica DB5s are being built in true 007 style by the company’s Q branch, the team behind bespoke projects commissioned by wealthy car collectors.
All 25 examples will be authentic reproductions of the movie car “from the ground up”, says Auto Express. Each vehicle will have the same 282bhp straight-six engine as the standard DB5, as well as the film car’s iconic Silver Birch paint.
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But the real appeal for collectors is the array of gadgets devised by Oscar-winning special effects expert Chris Corbould, says the magazine.
The limited edition car is equipped with a revolving number plate and is expected to feature a pop-up bullet shield behind its rear window, just like the one in Goldfinger. Creating an ejector seat without compromising the car’s safety could prove too much of a challenge, however.
Noboby knows quite how faithful the car’s creators will be to the 007 legend. But An Aston Martin spokesperson told The Daily Telegraph that it was “evaluating the feasibility of making working versions of each gadget featured in Goldfinger.”
Although Aston Martin aims to make the replicas as close as possible to the original cars, Autocar claims the British carmaker will modify some areas in order to “boost reliability and quality”.
The cars will enter production next year and will come with a hefty price tag of £2.75m, according to the motoring magazine. The figure rises to £3.3m once tax and delivery costs are factored in.
Much like Aston Martin’s other recreations of older models, such as last year’s £1.5m limited edition DB4 GT, the gadget-laden DB5 will not be legal on roads.
The Daily Telegraph says that buyers who want to drive their 007-inspired Aston on public roads will have to make the necessary modifications themselves.
