What happens when two classic British brands meet? They give birth to the world’s most famous secret agent driving the world’s most famous car, of course! The cooperation between the James Bond TV franchise and Aston Martin, the notorious car manufacturer, has added substantial value to both sides.
The Famous Aston Martin DB5 Wasn’t Always Famous
Everyone knows that the DB5 is 007’s preferred means of classy transportation. The car first appeared in Goldfinger, the 1964 Bond movie, and although it’s all the rage these days, that wasn’t always the case. Aston Martin produced less than 900 original DB5s between ‘63 and ‘65, but it wasn’t until the last two decades that the market value of Bond’s car really skyrocketed. In the early 2000s, you’d have had to pay around $100,000 to get your hands on one of these babies, while in 2020, you’ll have to kiss $1 million goodbye to get it. Some have even paid as high as $6.4 million.
Now, if that seems a bit too pricey for you for a 55+ year-old car, Aston Martin offers to build you a brand new DB5 for just $3.5 million.
The New Old DB5 Goldfinger Continuation Model
While they’ve kept the original design and vintage feel, you still get a brand new ride full of working gadgets! Yep, this Aston Martin is packed with the original Bond gadgets: an oil slick delivery system, sophisticated smoke machines, removable passenger seat roof panel (a simulated eject seat), revolving license plate, an actual bullet-resistant rear shield, simulated front machine guns, a gear knob actuator button (the famous red one), a telephone, a radar screen tracker map, and a center console-mounted switchgear, just to name a few.
Only 25 models are being produced as we speak, so it’s safe to say this jewelry will belong to only a few very lucky folks. The DB5 Goldfinger continuation car is the second most expensive production car in the world (the first one being an Aston Martin as well).
However, the DB5 is not road legal, so those 25 fellas will have to resolve to try out the gadgets in their driveways. Or, if they do go on the road, they can make use of the rotating license plates…