James Bond’s DB5 - the secrets behind 007’s car revealed in new book

The official history of Bond’s beloved car
Hero Collector Books

Ever since its glittering debut in Goldfinger, in 1964, there have been two - not just one - stars of the 007 movies: James Bond himself and the elegant but deadly Aston Martin DB5.

Now, marking the release of the latest Bond blockbuster - No Time To Die - a heavyweight new coffee table book has been released, celebrating the sleek, silver sports car famously packed with fantastic technical gadgets.

It’s the first time that EON Productions, the makers of the James Bond films, have authorised an ‘official’ history of the DB5, which has appeared in eight 007 films.

Carefully - not to say lovingly - presented and researched, the glossy, lavishly illustrated tome not only has a foreword from James Bond himself (well, the next best thing, actor Daniel Craig), and another introduction by 007 film producer Michael G Wilson, it also includes storyboards and diagrams and many rare and beautiful photographs dwelling on every detail of the car.

Weighing in at nearly 2.5 kilos and with a beautiful cover picture shot on the location of the latest film, the book traces the story of the DB5, and its high-tech filmic weapons, in minute detail.

Goldfinger

It starts with the Bond producers’ initial letters to Aston Martin, as well as those detailing the modifications made to the car for the filming of Goldfinger, including EON’s original drawings and little-seen pictures of the cast and crew on location in Switzerland.

The DB5 in Skyfall
Hero Collector Books

The book moves on to the history of the DB5s that went out on promotional tours and covers every subsequent appearance of the DB5 in the Bond movies, including the inside story of how it was ‘destroyed’ in Skyfall... before being resurrected for Spectre and further breathtaking action in No Time To Die.

There are 280 pages to browse, including 302 photos, showing various actors posing with the DB5, even several ‘spoilers’ showing how those chase scenes - including in No Time To Die - were actually filmed.

Storyboards from Skyfall featuring the DB5
Hero Collector Books

Some of the most startling images show how the DB5 - actually a scale model - was set alight for Skyfall in the Scottish Highlands.... with some of the scenes filmed on Hankley Common in Surrey.

Fully restored for Spectre (“I believe I said bring it back in one piece, not bring back one piece” quips Ben Wishaw’s Q), the DB5 makes its latest appearance in No Time To Die, complete with brand new gadgets explored by the new book, written by Simon Hugo and Will Lawrence.

There are pictures showing the dramatic car - and motorcycle - chase through the ancient streets of Matera, Italy, with Spectre agents driving a 1996 Maserati Quattroporte Evoluzione, a Lancia Thesis, Jaguar XFs and three Triumph motorcycles, including a Scrambler 1200.

Guns

The book details how stunt ‘doubles’ of the DB5 were built for No Time To Die, and there are close-ups of the machine guns hidden in the headlamp cowlings, along with descriptions of how they work - including how the car ejected the empty shells through side vents in the bodywork. All very clever.

The DB5 during filming of No Time To Die
Hero Collector Books

The book has a chapter called ‘Bond Cars for Every Budget’, examining the first scale Corgi DB5 sold, in 1965, complete with pop-out machine guns, bumper rams, a rear bullet screen and spring-loaded ejector seat. “As a child’s daily connection to the exciting world of Goldfinger and Thunderball it really didn’t matter that the toy was actually based on a DB4, or that it was painted gold rather than silver,” observe the authors.

There’s even a chapter on ‘Bond’s other Astons’ including the DBS starring in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, the V8 Volante (and hard top) that appeared in The Living Daylights (and in No Time To Die), the V12 Vanquish from Die Another Day, the DBS V12 from Casino Royale and the DB10 in Spectre. But of course it’s the silver DB5 that remains the star.

James Bond’s DB5 is sold by Hero Collector Books, costing £40.

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