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101 Cars: Aston Martin DB5
Written by: SPEED Staff
SPEEDtv.com   
07/28/2008
Charlotte, North Carolina
 
The Aston Martin DB5 with Bond, James Bond. (Photo: CanadianDriver.com) ยป More Photos

There's not a lot about the DB5 being chosen as 007's ride for the superspy's breakthrough appearance in Goldfinger that hasn't already been written or said. Yet in spite of the Bond hype, the DB5 stands high on any list of all-time great Aston Martins. It had the right look and balance, and it was a worthy advancement on the DB4 that came before it and a more sporting machine that the DB6 that followed. One thousand twenty-one DB5s were produced, 123 were convertibles, and 12 were converted to shooting brakes - that's a station wagon to us Yankees - by British coachbuilder Radford.

The Body panels are aluminum, stretched over a tubular steel frame. While the DB5's big six doesn't pack quite the cachet of Ferrari's V-12s of the day, it is a good performer, offering a real-world blend of sports car and grand tourer. The interior is beautifully detailed, and you have to love those knock-off wire wheels. Depending upon which book you read and which version of the story you believe, at least two DB5s were used for filming Goldfinger and Thunderball, plus promotional cars, and yet another stock machine appeared in 1995's Goldeneye.

Specifications
Engine: 4.0-liter inline six
Horsepower: 282 (314 for DB5 Vantage)
0–60 mph: 7.1 seconds
Top Speed: 145 miles per hour
Price New: $12,500
Value Now: $2 million for a sorted, rust-free coupe in good condition...not including smoke screen generator, revolving license plates, or ejector seat.
Aston Martin DB5 Photos



Claim to Fame

The best dance partner a certain British spy could have ever asked for.


Soundtrack

"Goldfinger" by Shirley Bassey


Perfect Passenger

Think hard: who would you most like to launch with that famous ejector seat?


Behind the Wheel
Most DB5s sell at auction these days.


Did You Know?
Aston Martin was on the verge of bankruptcy when Goldfinger premiered. The movie's success spurred DB5 sales, and saved the company.


The Perfect Drive
The curving Furka Pass in Switzerland, where Bond's car shredded the side of Tilly Masterson's Mustang in Goldfinger



Read the REVIEW and Get Your Copy of 365 Cars You Must Drive

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