On October 5th, fans of Britain’s greatest spy celebrated what is unofficially known as ‘James Bond Day’. It has been 62 years since the release of the first James Bond film, Dr No, and while fans await news of the identity of the next 007, many (including me) used the occasion to re-familiarise myself with some of the 25 films.

Writing a James Bond related feature is a pleasure for me to do, especially while I listen to an ultimate soundtrack mix on YouTube. Bond cars are as recognisable and iconic as the actors who have played the famous spy. The car brand most synonymous with Bond is Aston Martin, and there can surely be no Aston Martin more iconic than the DB5. Aston Martin DB5s have appeared in Bond films from as early as the Sean Connery era to the most recent actor to play Bond, Daniel Craig. It has become not only the most recognisable Bond car but one of the most recognisable cars in film history. So let’s delve deeper into the story behind the Aston Martin DB5 and James Bond, looking in more detail at the car and the films it appeared in.

Aston Martin DB5

The first two Bond films, Dr No and From Russia With Love, saw 007 briefly behind the wheel of a Sunbeam Alpine Series II and using the phone in a Bentley Mark IV. Even the early novels had Bond driving a 1930 Blower Bentley. However, for Goldfinger, writer Ian Fleming intended for Bond to drive an Aston Martin DB Mk III. The studio wasn’t so keen on the idea, though, preferring something more contemporary, and thus, the long association between the Aston Martin DB5 and James Bond was born. Powering the DB5 is a 4.0-litre 6-cylinder engine mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox and putting out 282bhp.

Goldfinger (1964)

It was recently the 60th anniversary of the release of Goldfinger, and it is in this film that Bond is first introduced to his DB5 in a meeting with Q, who demonstrates an array of gadgets available in his new car. These include bulletproof glass, revolving number plates, defence mechanisms (smokescreen, oil slick, bulletproof shield) and most famous of all, an ejector seat…“ejector seat? You must be joking!”

Bond uses a tracking device to pursue Goldfinger from Stoke Park Golf Club in Buckinghamshire to the villain’s gold melting facility in Switzerland. There, he is discovered by the villain’s henchmen and despite using the majority of the gadgets on offer, his attempts to escape are ultimately unsuccessful. With Bond captured, this is the last we see of the DB5 in the film.

The car used in Goldfinger was the original DB5 prototype from the Aston Martin factory, with another standard model used for stunts.

Thunderball (1965)

The DB5 returned briefly in Sean Connery’s next Bond film, Thunderball, as part of the pre-titles scene. After escaping SPECTRE assassin Jacques Bouvar’s chateau on a conveniently placed jet pack, Bond runs to his DB5 where he uses a bulletproof shield and water jets to defend himself against Bouvar’s henchmen . This effect was achieved using two fire hoses mounted under the car.

Goldeneye (1995)

It was 30 years before fans saw 007 driving the DB5 again and Pierce Brosnan had just begun playing Bond. So where better for him to drive the iconic DB5 than the French Riviera? During the scene, Bond is being evaluated by an MI6 worker, only to be drawn into a race through the mountains against a Ferrari F355 driven by Xenia Onatopp. The full capabilities of the Aston Martin are shown in the scene, although it can be questioned whether the DB5 would actually be able to keep up with the Ferrari. This is the world of James Bond though, so modifications to the engine from Q branch couldn’t be discounted. Modifications that had been made included a radio that doubled as a printer and communication device and a champagne cooler under the centre armrest.

Three different DB5s were used for filming during Goldeneye. The James Bond 007 YouTube channel provides an interesting quote from Brosnan about this particular scene, who remarked: “We did about eight takes and they said, ‘What’s that smell?’ And I said, ‘I don’t know?’ I had been driving up the mountain with the handbrake on.”

Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)

We only briefly see the same BMT 214A plated DB5 in Brosnan’s second appearance as 007 in Tomorrow Never Dies. It can first be seen at Oxford University where Bond has gone, in his words, “to brush up on a little Danish.”
After being told by Moneypenny to report back to London following an attack on a British Navy ship, the DB5 is then seen driving through the capital into the MI6 Headquarters at Somerset House. This is the last time, barring a deleted scene from The World Is Not Enough, that we see the DB5 during the Brosnan era.

Casino Royale (2006)

In Daniel Craig’s first outing as 007, Bond pursues a lead which takes him to the Bahamas. While staying at the Ocean Club Four Seasons Resort, Bond indulges in a game of poker against the villain Alex Dimitrios. After being pushed into a corner, and with no money left to stake, Dimitrios puts the keys to his Aston Martin DB5 into the pot and subsequently loses to Bond.

The left-hand drive Bahamian-plated DB5 is then taken for a short drive by Bond from the Ocean Club to…the Ocean Club with Dimitrious’ girlfriend in the passenger seat.

Skyfall (2012)

Following a one-film absence, the DB5 returned to the franchise in Skyfall as Bond ‘kidnaps’ M, switches vehicles and escapes from villain Raoul Silva to Scotland. It is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the film, and I specifically remember the audience in my showing giving the DB5’s reveal the appropriate level of applause.

”Oh, and I suppose that’s completely completely inconspicuous.” - M

By this point, James Bond was celebrating its 50th anniversary on our screens and the Aston Martin DB5 was becoming so recognisable that a Bond film wouldn’t be a Bond film without its appearance. The DB5’s first appearance in Goldfinger is referenced as Bond threatens to eject M for complaining about the comfort levels in the car.

007 and M reach Scotland, with the DB5 looking resplendent against the stunning Highlands backdrop. They continue to Bond’s childhood home, Skyfall, and await Silva’s arrival with some cobbled together homemade weapons.

As Silva and his henchmen approach Skyfall, it is here we finally get to see the DB5’s weapons in action, following years of simply adding to the films visually. After unloading its firepower on several of Silva’s men, the DB5 meets an unfortunate end as it is destroyed by a shower of bullets from Silva’s helicopter. The DB5’s demise is a symbolic moment in the film and Bond is understandably fuelled by rage.

During the scene where it is destroyed, mini replicas were instead used to save the actual DB5 from any harm. This was done using 3D printing to create models a third of the size of the real DB5.

Spectre (2015)

After being blown to pieces at the end of Skyfall, the DB5 is in a bad way at MI6’s lab.

“I believe I said bring it back in one piece, not bring back one piece.” - Q

It makes it second and final appearance in the end scene of Spectre, where it is collected from Q by Bond. The sound of the engine starting and the lovely sight of London in the morning is a visual treat. Also, if you haven’t yet noticed, the number plate is the same as the one seen in the Sean Connery films.

No Time To Die (2021)

By the time we get to the most recent film, No Time To Die, the DB5 is an essential component and we see in the pre-titles sequence where a now retired Bond is travelling around Southern Italy with Madeleine Swann.

The DB5 - now with the plate A 4269 00 - looks at home as it glides around coastal roads before making it to the city of Matera, where Bond and Swann are faced with an attack from Blofeld. For the first time since Goldfinger, we finally get to see the full array of gadgets put to use as the pair are chased around the city. Put to use is a mine dispenser with dropping minimines, smokescreen control, bulletproof glass and a pair of M134 Miniguns.

The bulletproof glass is pushed to its limit as a distraught Bond, who believes Swann has betrayed him, is motionless as Primo unloads a shotgun at the DB5 from point-blank range. Faced with a decision, Bond donuts around the town square while the DB5’s guns spray bullets at Blofeld’s men, a stunt Daniel Craig actually took on himself. Eight different vehicles were used for filming.

We don’t see the DB5 beyond this scene, with Bond later driving an Aston Martin V8 and getting into the passenger seat of a DBS Superleggera.

The Continuation Series

Only 1059 DB5s were produced during its original run in the 1960s. However, Aston Martin still caters to owners and provides support where needed. In 2020, the brand created 25 authentic reproductions of the Goldfinger DB5 with all of the gadgets by the same manufacturers who built the original units for the film. Unfortunately, these were not road legal.

words: Mike Booth
pictures: Aston Martin, MGM Studios, Eon Productions & Prime Video