1965. Fu allora che la Aston Martin terminò la produzione della DB5 originale. Cinquantacinque anni dopo, la mitica auto esce nuovamente dalla catena di montaggio, con lo stesso incredibile design della prima serie.
Questo perché il modello è un tributo alla DB5 originale guidata dall'agente dell'MI6 James Bond, interpretato da Sean Connery nel film del 1964 Goldfinger.
Inutile dire che il lavoro di realizzazione sia stato molto più che certosino. Lo sviluppo della "nuova" DB5 ha visto soprattutto l'integrazione di tutti gli svariati gadget presenti sulla macchina da inseguimento dello 007 più famoso al mondo.
Rifinita in color argento, proprio come l'originale, l'auto ha lasciato la fabbrica di Newport Pagnell dopo circa 4.500 ore di lavorazione.
Gadget a non finire, proprio come al cinema
Dalle finte doppie mitragliatrici nella parte anteriore fino ad un sistema di erogazione di fumogeni sul retro, questa DB5 è un insieme di chicche in pieno stile James Bond. C'è anche la targa rotante, sia nella parte anteriore che in quella posteriore, con tanto di tripla targa identica a quella del film.
Immancabili gli arieti da speronamento incorporati in entrambe le estremità della vettura. E come optional, c’è pure un pannello rimovibile del tetto sul lato passeggero.
L'elenco dei gadget non finisce certo qui: a completare l'esterno della DB5 Goldfinger, sono stati montati sulle ruote dei finti arpioni, è stato inserito inoltre un sistema di erogazione di chiazze d’olio (anch’esso solo simulato, ovviamente) e il lunotto posteriore è addirittura antiproiettile.
All’interno poi, la falsa mappa radar - con tanto di tracking - e il telefono montato nella portiera del conducente aiutano ad incrementare la sensazione di essere un vero agente segreto.
Fotogallery: Aston martin DB5 Continuation
L’abitacolo è stato sottoposto a ulteriori modifiche per rispecchiare lo stile “James Bond”, con l’installazione ad esempio di un telecomando per il controllo remoto dei vari gadget.
Non potevano mancare ovviamente un vano portaoggetti nascosto sotto il sedile per le eventuali "armi", e una console piena di pulsanti per attivare tutti i congegni, incorporata nel bracciolo centrale.
La famosa "auto spia" di James Bond
Edizione limitatissima e già sold-out
L’anima di questo gioiello è il classico motore a sei cilindri in linea, 4.0 aspirato da ben 290 CV, abbinato al cambio manuale ZF a cinque rapporti, con differenziale meccanico a slittamento limitato.
La DB5 Goldfinger Continuation mostra fieramente le stesse forme della Bond Car originale, con pannelli della carrozzeria in alluminio combinati ad un telaio in acciaio. Non mancano però gli "aggiornamenti utili": Aston Martin, infatti, dice che "sono state apportate alcune leggere modifiche e migliorie" per "garantire i massimi livelli di affidabilità".
L’auto, rigorosamente in edizione limitata a soli 25 esemplari e non street-legal, parte da un prezzo di acquisto di circa tre milioni di euro. Le consegne ai fortunati clienti sono già in corso e continueranno fino alla fine dell'anno. Un vero sogno per pochi eletti.
Making history: the first new DB5 in more than 50 years rolls off the line as inaugural Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger Continuation car is completed
· ‘Job 1’ customer car is completed on schedule as DB5 Goldfinger Continuation production gets into full swing at Aston Martin Works
· The first in a strictly limited run of 25 customer cars is finished after around 4,500 hours of meticulous construction
· In association with EON Productions the new car features a broad selection of working gadgets familiar from the classic James Bond film, Goldfinger
6 July 2020, Newport Pagnell, UK: Many of the UK’s most talented craftspeople and engineers put the finishing touches to the first in a new but very familiar series of Aston Martin sports cars, as the first customer car in the DB5 Goldfinger Continuation programme left the production line last week.
The ‘Job 1’ DB5 represents not only another significant design and engineering success, but also becomes the first new DB5 to be built by Aston Martin in more than half a century as the British luxury sports car maker’s Continuation programme once again makes history.
Dubbed ‘the most famous car in the world’ and renowned as being among the most desirable and sought-after classic Aston Martin models, the DB5 has become a byword for timeless style and sports car desirability. Fewer than 900 saloon examples were built between 1963 and 1965, with by far the most famous of the original owners being the world’s best-known secret agent – James Bond – who first drove the car that is today inextricably linked with him in the 1964 film, Goldfinger.
Now, 55 years after the last new DB5 rolled elegantly off the production line at Aston Martin’s then global manufacturing base in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, work is ongoing there on a strictly limited number of new DB5 models.
Created in association with Bond filmmaker EON Productions, and featuring a broad suite of working gadgets first seen in the film, the Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger Continuation cars really are history in the making.
Aside from being hugely significant as new DB5’s, the cars being built this year are also remarkable in so much as they feature working gadgets similar to those previously only seen on cars used for filming or promotion of the James Bond films. The new cars include an array of functioning devices created by Bond film special effects supervisor Chris Corbould OBE.
The list of Bond-inspired gadgets includes:
Exterior:
Rear smoke screen delivery system
Rear simulated oil slick delivery system
Revolving number plates front and rear (triple plates)
Simulated twin front machine guns
Bullet resistant rear shield
Battering rams front and rear
Simulated tyre slasher
Removable passenger seat roof panel (optional equipment)
Interior:
Simulated radar screen tracker map
Telephone in driver’s door
Gear knob actuator button
Armrest and centre console-mounted switchgear
Under-seat hidden weapons/storage tray
Remote control for gadget activation
Each of the 25 new cars are meticulously detailed authentic reproductions of the DB5 seen on screen, with some sympathetic modifications and enhancements to ensure the highest levels of build quality and reliability. All the Goldfinger edition cars are being built to one exterior colour specification – Silver Birch paint – just like the original.
The cars feature original DB5 styled aluminium exterior body panels cloaking an authentic DB5 mild steel chassis structure. Under the bonnet there’s a 4.0-litre naturally aspirated inline six-cylinder engine with a six-plug head, three SU carburettors and oil cooler, that’s capable of generating in the order of 290 bhp. This is mated to a five-speed ZF manual transmission in the rear-wheel drive DB5, which also features a mechanical limited slip differential.
Servo-assisted hydraulic Girling-type steel disc brakes, rack and pinion steering – which does not feature assistance – and a suspension set-up comprising coil over spring and damper units with anti-roll bar at the front, and a live axle rear suspension with radius arms and Watt’s linkage, complete the dynamic package.
Scores of world-class Aston Martin craftsmen and women, technicians, development engineers and designers have been involved in the project, working carefully with a suite of handpicked suppliers from across the world and ensuring that each new DB5 matches not only the aspirations of its owner, but also the duty to the brand’s proud 107-year heritage.
Paul Spires, President of Aston Martin Works where the original DB5 was built and the new cars are also being created, said: “To see the first customer car finished, and realise that this is the first new DB5 we have built in more than half a century, really is quite a moment.
“It is a rare and genuine privilege to be involved in this latest Aston Martin continuation project, and to be helping to support the creation of new versions of what is perhaps the world’s most famous motor car. I’m absolutely certain that the 25 lucky owners who will take delivery of these cars will be thrilled with them.”
First deliveries of the DB5 Goldfinger Continuation to customers have commenced and will continue through the second half of 2020.