Aston Martin DB5 1964 News

Aston Martin has teamed up with James Bond series producers, EON productions, to build 25 brand-new 1964 DB5s.

Aston Martin has a rich and prestigious heritage and that the company is now 100 years old is one of the more remarkable feats of automotive longevity. Despite near death financial experiences on numerous occasions and more owners and investors than you and I have had hot dinners, Aston Martin is still there. Other UK marques, such as Austin, Morris, Riley, Hillman, Singer, Humber, Sunbeam, Alvis, Jensen, Armstrong Siddley, Standard and Triumph have all disappeared, but Aston Martin lives on. Founded in 1913 by Robert Bamford and Lionel Martin as ‘Bamford & Martin Ltd’, the company has developed into a global brand synonymous with speed, luxury and elegance. The name ‘Aston Martin’ came about when Lionel Martin successfully raced at the Aston Hill Climb in Buckinghamshire, England. Financial problems plagued the company over the next decade (nothing new there) with the business forced to close in 1925. It was rescued by a group of investors in 1926. The business was soon producing a range of sports cars and had an increasing reputation for engineering and design. Now remember, we are talking about a small niche player here, not some huge manufacturing conglomerate. A mere 140 cars were sold in 1937, the highest in the pre World War 2 era. In 1947 a new owner took over, Sir David Brown, and it was during his watch that the most iconic Aston of all time was produced. I speak, of course, of the car frequently acclaimed as the most beautiful car in the world, the Aston Martin DB5-the one James Bond drove in Goldfinger. Released in 1963, which means it's celebrating its 50 anniversary, the DB5 has come to personify everything that Aston Martin is today. Mind you, I think the most striking Aston Martin of all is the 1976 four door Lagonda. Designed by William Towns, it is an aggressively styled automobile. Long of hood and short of tail, with a cutting edge computerized digital instrument panel, the Lagonda created a huge wave of publicity for the company. Nothing worked properly, of course. All those complex electronics just refused to operate as intended. Some folk unkindly suggested that an essential part of the car's tool kit was a multi-meter, O scope and jumper leads. With an initial production rate of just one a week only 645 cars were built before the end of production in 1989. There are one or two still roaming this sunburnt country and about 80 in the UK. David Burrell is the editor of Retroautos.com.au  

When it comes to movie cars, few are more famous than the Aston Martin DB5 driven by James Bond in Goldfinger, Thunderball, GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, Casino Royale and Skyfall. In total, four cars were reportedly built for filming and promotion of the Bond movies. Two were constructed for the filming of Goldfinger, but Wikipedia advises that one of these DB5s was stolen from its owners in Florida in 1997. The surviving Goldfinger movie car was sold at an RM Auction event in 2010 for the rather impressive sum of $4.1 million. While it’s hard to price such an iconic car, its value was likely helped by the fact that it was driven by Sean Connery in both Goldfinger and Thunderball. The two cars remaining were used to promote the Bond franchise, but never appeared onscreen. One, a 1964 Aston Martin DB5, resides in the collection of the Louwman Museum in The Hague, Netherlands. The final remaining James Bond DB5, reportedly a 1965 model, is now being offered for sale by Aston Martin specialist Richard Stewart Williams, Limited. Equipped with the standard array of gadgets like a nail dispenser, oil spray nozzles, bulletproof shield and rotating number plates, it’s the perfect addition to anyone’s Aston Martin collection. The Deccan Herald reports that the car was also used to promote Thunderball, and that the asking price is set at 3 million pounds ($4.5 million AUD). That seems a bit ambitious to us, given the fact that the actual DB5 used in the filming of Goldfinger sold for over half a million dollars less. That said, the universal truth of collector cars is this: their value is ultimately set by a determined buyer. While we suppose RS Williams will entertain offers for the car, it knows that finding a buyer willing to pay that much is just a matter of time. www.motorauthority.com  

   

Skyfall sees the return of the quintessential Bond car, the Aston Martin. A silver-birch DB5 made its debut in Goldfinger in 1964 with an array of gadgets such as pop-out machine guns, bullet shield, tyre-shredding Boadicea-style wheels, an ejector seat, a car phone and revolving number plates which would be considered illegal in these days of speed cameras.One of the two DB5s built specially for Goldfinger sold at auction for $4.1 million in 2010. The other was rebuilt as a regular road car and sold on, only to be stolen from its last owner in Florida. While most people associate the British master spy with Astons, the original Ian Fleming books had him driving a Bentley. In a new book commissioned by Ian Fleming Publications, author Jeffery Deaver has returned 007 to a Bentley in the pages of Carte Blanche.Despite Bond driving a Bentley in Fleming's books, his first car in a movie was a Sunbeam Alpine in the 1962 film Dr No. He didn't drive a Bentley until the second Bond flick, From Russia With Love, in 1963 in which the licensed-to-kill agent drove a Bentley Mark IV. He also drove Bentleys in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) and Moonraker (1979). It wasn't until the third Bond movie, Goldfinger in 1964, that Bond drove the famous DB5.James Bond carsDr No (1962): Sunbeam Alpine, Chevrolet Bel Air convertibleFrom Russia With Love (1963): Bentley Mark IVGoldfinger (1964): Aston Martin DB5, Rolls-Royce, Mercedes 190 coupe, Lincoln Continental, Ford Mustang convertible, Rolls-Royce Phantom IIIThunderball (1965): Aston Martin DB5, Ford Mustang convertible, BSA Lightning 650cc motorcycle, gyrocopterYou Only Live Twice (1967): Toyota 2000 GT, BMW 2000 CSOn Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969): Aston Martin DBS, Mercury Cougar, Bentley Mark II Continental, Rolls-Royce CornicheDiamonds are Forever (1971): 1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1, Triumph Stag, moonbuggyLive And Let Die (1973): Glastron speedboat, double-decker London bus, Chevrolet Impala convertible, Mini MokeThe Man With The Golden Gun (1974): AMC Hornet and Matador, Rolls-Royce Silver ShadowThe Spy Who Loved Me (1977): Lotus Esprit, Wetbike concept, Ford Cortina 2.3 Ghia, Mini MokeMoonraker (1979): Bentley Mark IV, Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith IIFor Your Eyes Only (1981): Citroen 2CV, Lotus Esprit Turbo, Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith IIOctopussy (1983): Merc-Benz 250 SE, BMW 5 Series, Alfa Romeo GTVA View To A Kill (1985): Renault taxi, Ford LTD, Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II, Chevrolet Corvette C4, Jeep Cherokee (XJ)The Living Daylights (1987): Aston Martin DBS and V8 Vantage, Audi 200 QuattroLicence To Kill (1989): Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, Kenworth petrol tankerGoldenEye (1995): BMW Z3 roadster, Aston Martin DB5, Russian tank, Ferrari 355Tomorrow Never Dies (1997): Aston Martin DB5, BMW 750iL, BMW R1200C motorcycleThe World is Not Enough (1999): BMW Z8, Rolls-Royce Silver ShadowDie Another Day (2002): Aston Martin Vanquish, Jaguar XKR, pink Ford Thunderbird convertibleCasino Royale (2006): Aston Martin DBS and DB5, Jaguar E Type Roadster, Fiat Panda 4x4, Ford Transit, Ford MondeoQuantum of Solace (2008): Aston Martin DBS V12, Alfa Romeo 159 & 156, Audi A6, Ford Ka & Edge, Jaguar XJ8, Volvo S40T5, Volkswagen Type 1. 

The majority shareholder in Aston Martin has reportedly already been talking to potential buyers, including Toyota and Indian giant Mahindra. Bond fans might consider the move is perfectly timed, with unmatcheable free marketing around the appearance of a vintage Aston Martin DB5 in the latest 007 movie, Skyfall, the eleventh in which the British luxury car brand has featured. Skyfall hits Australian cinemas on November 22, but is already raking in ticket box takings overseas that could see it the biggest-grossing film in the series. The publicity could help the sale by Kuwaiti company Investment Dar, which holds 64 per cent of Aston Martin and has appointed Rothschild bankers to consult on the sale, according to a report by business website Bloomberg. Saying five people with knowledge of the sale had spoken to Bloomberg, the article cited two of them as explaining the sellers have hit a hurdle over price, with potential investors unwilling to shell out the 503 million pounds ($769 million) reported asking price. That’s the amount Investment Dar paid for its share in Aston Martin five years ago, and is now said to be sought to help the Kuwaiti company clear sizeable debt. Aston Martin last year made a before-tax profit of just 76 million pounds ($117 million). However Bloomberg says Investment Dar has denied it has put its share of the carmaker on the market, and that representatives of Mahindra and Toyota have declined to comment on the matter. Skyfall sees the return of the quintessential Bond car, the Aston Martin DB5 voted the greatest 007 car in several online and magazine polls over the years. A silver-birch DB5 made its debut in Goldfinger in 1964 with an array of gadgets such as pop-out machine guns, bullet shield, tyre-shredding Boadicea-style wheels, an ejector seat, a car phone and revolving number plates which would be considered illegal in these days of speed cameras. One of the two DB5s built specially for Goldfinger sold at auction for $4.1 million in 2010. The other was rebuilt as a regular road car and sold on, only to be stolen from its last owner in Florida.  While most people associate the British master spy with Astons, the original Ian Fleming books had him driving a Bentley. In a new book commissioned by Ian Fleming Publications, author Jeffery Deaver has returned 007 to a Bentley in the pages of Carte Blanche. Despite Bond driving a Bentley in Fleming's books, his first car in a movie was a Sunbeam Alpine in the 1962 film Dr No. He didn't drive a Bentley until the second Bond flick, From Russia With Love, in 1963 in which the licensed-to-kill agent drove a Bentley Mark IV. He also drove Bentleys in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) and Moonraker (1979). It wasn't until the third Bond movie, Goldfinger in 1964, that Bond drove the famous DB5. James Bond cars Dr No (1962): Sunbeam Alpine, Chevrolet Bel Air convertible From Russia With Love (1963): Bentley Mark IV Goldfinger (1964): Aston Martin DB5, Rolls-Royce, Mercedes 190 coupe, Lincoln Continental, Ford Mustang convertible, Rolls-Royce Phantom III Thunderball (1965): Aston Martin DB5, Ford Mustang convertible, BSA Lightning 650cc motorcycle, gyrocopter You Only Live Twice (1967): Toyota 2000 GT, BMW 2000 CS On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969): Aston Martin DBS, Mercury Cougar, Bentley Mark II Continental, Rolls-Royce Corniche Diamonds are Forever (1971): 1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1, Triumph Stag, moonbuggy Live And Let Die (1973): Glastron speedboat, double-decker London bus, Chevrolet Impala convertible, Mini Moke The Man With The Golden Gun (1974): AMC Hornet and Matador, Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow The Spy Who Loved Me (1977): Lotus Esprit, Wetbike concept, Ford Cortina 2.3 Ghia, Mini Moke Moonraker (1979): Bentley Mark IV, Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith II For Your Eyes Only (1981): Citroen 2CV, Lotus Esprit Turbo, Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith II Octopussy (1983): Merc-Benz 250 SE, BMW 5 Series, Alfa Romeo GTV A View To A Kill (1985): Renault taxi, Ford LTD, Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II, Chevrolet Corvette C4, Jeep Cherokee (XJ) The Living Daylights (1987): Aston Martin DBS and V8 Vantage, Audi 200 Quattro Licence To Kill (1989): Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, Kenworth petrol tanker GoldenEye (1995): BMW Z3 roadster, Aston Martin DB5, Russian tank, Ferrari 355 Tomorrow Never Dies (1997): Aston Martin DB5, BMW 750iL, BMW R1200C motorcycle The World is Not Enough (1999): BMW Z8, Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow Die Another Day (2002): Aston Martin Vanquish, Jaguar XKR, pink Ford Thunderbird convertible Casino Royale (2006): Aston Martin DBS and DB5, Jaguar E Type Roadster, Fiat Panda 4x4, Ford Transit, Ford Mondeo Quantum of Solace (2008): Aston Martin DBS V12, Alfa Romeo 159 & 156, Audi A6, Ford Ka & Edge, Jaguar XJ8, Volvo S40T5, Volkswagen Type 1.  

When it comes to used dream cars, the Ford Falcon GTHO Phase III takes the cake.

Both are up for auction at the Automobiles of London sale in London on October 27.  The most famous is the 1964 Aston Martin DB5 that starred in the James Bond epic Goldfinger in 1964, the third instalment from the 007 series. It was so popular it returned for Thunderball, GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies and Casino Royale. It featured revolving number plates, Browning machine guns, extending bumper overriders for ramming baddies, a smoke screen, an oil slick and nail spreaders, plus the infamous Martin-Baker fighter jet ejector seat, triggered by the little red button under the gear lever knob.  All these features remain on the car driven in the films by the first Bond, Sean Connery.  There is no estimate of its fetching price at auction.  The second Bond was Roger Moore who never drove an Aston Martin. Instead, he drove a Bentley, a Chevy Implala convertible and most famously an amphibious Lotus Esprit. In his Saint TV series, Moore as Simon Templar made the Volvo P1800 famous.  But the Moore car up for auction is a 1969 Lamborghini Islero GTS he drove in the obscure 1970 thriller, The Man Who Haunted Himself, Moore drives which will be auctioned The movie features Moore as a man who awakes from surgery after a car accident to find his life has been turned upside-down. He is frequently seen driving the rare Lamborghini Islero GTS in the movie, including a climatic chase scene.  Sir Roger Moore was recently reunited with the Islero in London where he autographed the sun visor, the original driver's handbook and a special plaque. Finished in silver and carrying the original movie registration number YRL 11G, this Islero is one of only five right-hand variants built.  The car is estimated to achieve between $154,000 and $220,000 at the auction.

The silver 1964 DB5 used in the Bond movies Goldfinger and Thunderball goes under the gavel in London in October. It is expected to fetch more than $5 million.  The Aston is one of only two cars left from the original 007 DB5s driven by Sean Connery in the two Bond movies. It even has its original UK registration number, FMP 7B. The DB5 has has travelled about 48,000km and has rarely been seen in public since it was bought in 1969 by American radio broadcaster and philanthropist Jerry Lee. Lee paid $US12,000 for the purpose-built movie car. "The James Bond car has brought me much enjoyment for some 40 years," Lee says. Lee will use the auction funds to help the Jerry Lee Foundation, a charity aimed at solving social problems associated with poverty. The Bond car comes with a full complement of accessories, including machine guns, bullet-proof shield, revolving number plates, tracking device, removable roof panel, oil slick sprayer, nail spreader and smoke screen, all controlled from factory installed toggles and switches hidden in the centre arm-rest. The DB5 was originally loaned to EON Productions for the Bond films and returned to the Aston Martin Lagonda factory after a promotional tour. It is described as being in original condition and has recently been overhauled to returning it to running condition. The managing director of RM Auctions in the UK, Max Girardo, says the Aston is one of the world's most significant collector cars.

Was it "Big Bopper" - the '79 XB Falcon from Mad Max, or Steve McQueen's '68 Mustang GT in Bullitt. Or could it be the '64 Aston Martin DB5 driven by Bond in Goldfinger. How about the Mini Coopers of 1969 in the Italian Job? Or, does the '77 Pontiac Trans Am from Smokey and The Bandit top your list?Take our poll below to tell us what you think, or leave a comment if your top pick is not listed.But if the Oscars gave out awards to cars instead of stars, Audi would probably get the most nominations. During the past few years, Audis have featured in all the Transporter movies, Ronin, I Robot, Mission Impossible 2, About a Boy, Legally Blonde 2, Hitman, The Matrix 2, Iron Man and now its sequel.In the first Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr plays Tony Stark (a.k.a 'Iron Man'). His workshop houses a 1932 Ford Flathead roadster, a 1967 Shelby Cobra, a Saleen S7, a prototype Tesla Roadster and a 2008 Audi R8.Supporting roles were played by the S5 sports sedan driven by American secret service agents and a Q7 SUV which is literally held up by Iron Man, who saves the family inside from the enemy. For the Australian premiere, Downey Jr arrived in a silver R8. In Iron Man 2 he drives an Audi R8 Spyder and his secretary, Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), drives an A8 TDI.Audi Australia corporate communications general manager Anna Burgdorf could not confirm whether any payment was made for the placement. However, she could confirm that the super-sport R8 V10 Spyder will arrive here towards the end of the year.The R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro features a lightweight-cloth top that opens automatically in about 19 seconds. Its V10 engine produces 386kW of power and launches the open-top two-seater to 100km/h in 4.1 seconds on its way to a top speed of 313km/h.Product placement of cars is not new to the sliver screen. Most critics believe it started with Bond films, notably the Aston Martin DB5 in Goldfinger, in 1964. Aston returned in 1965 for Thunderball and was replaced by the DBS for 1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service.Other companies then got into the act of pushing their vehicles on to the Bond screen with the highlights being the amphibious Lotus Esprit in The Spy Who Loved Me and the launch of the BMW Z3 Roadster in GoldenEye. Even a pre-production Aston Martin DBS scored a role in Casino Royale, and scored a Guinness record for "the most cannon rolls in a car at the same time" - seven - for its very brief appearance.Iron Man 2 begins screening in Australia on April 29.