Notifications
Clear all
Forum 18
9
Posts
3
Users
29
Reactions
691
Views
Topic starter
27/02/2025 2:48 pm
For the Bond movies, "Goldfinger" and "Thunderball" Aston Martin leased two of their prototype BB5s which were upgraded DB4. The true prototype was known as the "Road Car" and it was the one Sean Connery drove. That car went back and forth being armed and unarmed. The final owner had it rearmed for exhibition and in 1997 it was stolen from an aircraft hanger in Boca Raton, Fla and never seen again. The second movie car, known as the "Gadget Car" which was used for all the special effects, is the only movie car still existing. On Aston Martin's dime, that car was again rearmed to be shown at the 1977 New York Auto Show and once more in 1981. It was sold again at auction for $4.6 million to another collector and has been shown a few times since. Two other Bond cars were built for for the production company for publicity, and they still exist and command auction bids close to the the "Gadget Car".
As to this parabellum Silver Birch DB5 model by AUTOart has all the lethal bells and whistles worthy of much finger fun. Even the trunk opens to reveal the oil revervoir that either be squirted out or as a smoke screen through the pipe just inboard of the dual exhausts. The telephone receiver in the driver's door compartment is attached by a phone cord. Everything imaginable is in the model save for a passenger seat ejector although the top with headliner and the passenger seat are removable if you want to pose it with the seat outside and a dead North Korean mercenary nearby. Note: the tires are actually branded "Avons".I'm happy to finally replace that old 1/24 Danbury Mint model that just looks cobbled together.
27/02/2025 3:04 pm
Love it.... Autoart did a solid job updating their DB5; I especially like the new-style door hinges! I opted for the non-Bond version. The only thing(s ) I miss are the mirrors.
Topic starter
27/02/2025 3:07 pm
@chris Yeah. The shutlines are so tight on the model you need that special tool to open the panels. It's a real quality replica.
27/02/2025 3:29 pm
@rich-sufficool Correct.... this is my first "composite Autoart," kind of cool.... I'll probably get a few more. I waited a LONG time for a quality 1963 - '64 DB5. I passed on all these others because they just didn't quite measure up -OR- they were more than $20,000
Topic starter
27/02/2025 4:49 pm
When "Goldfinger" came out, I thought that Aston Martin was the coolest car on the planet. Watching it careening around many decades later it looks like it doesn't perform that great.
01/03/2025 8:07 am
Chris, can I please ask you to explain why you found each model DB5 pictured not worthy to be in your collection ??? Thank-you. I'm ready for a protracted explanation...😄
Steve
01/03/2025 12:13 pm
you to explain why you found each model DB5 pictured not worthy to be in your collection?
Steve, the short is that there's something "goofy" about all of them. Either the trunks look strange when opened (or don't open at all ). The wire rims look "flat," or engine detail in minimal, along with sparse interiors. Or they have dog-leg door hinges, or the tires are too large, etc....
This NEW, up-dated Autoart, although not perfect, has FAR less "goofiness" to it than any of the others....with exception perhaps to those $20,000+ replicas.
Rich Sufficool and Steve Jacobs reacted
01/03/2025 10:01 pm
I think if I remember correctly I had the Chrono version of the DB5 and then got rid of it and then I've never had another one since. None of them ever seem to measure up. And back then they were charging incredible prices for the model and I think it was basically they were charging for the packaging, because it said "Goldfinger". I'm not paying for advertising I'm paying for the model.
Rich Sufficool and Christopher Moroni reacted