Aston
Martin DB5
The Aston
Martin DB5 is a luxury grand tourer that was made by Aston Martin and designed
by the Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera. Released in 1963,
it was an evolution of the final series of DB4. The DB series was named
honouring Sir David Brown (the head of Aston Martin from 1947 to 1972).
Although not the first, the DB5 is famous for being the most recognised
cinematic James Bond car, first appearing in Goldfinger (1964).
The
principal differences between the DB4 Series V and the DB5 are the all-aluminum
engine, enlarged from 3.7 L to 4.0 L; a new robust ZF five-speed transmission
(except for some of the very first DB5s); and three SU carburettors. This
engine, producing 282 bhp (210 kW), which propelled the car to 145 mph (233
km/h), available on the Vantage (high powered) version of the DB4 since March
1962, became the standard Aston Martin power unit with the launch in September
1963 of the DB5.
Standard
equipment on the DB5 included reclining seats, wool pile carpets, electric
windows, twin fuel tanks, chrome wire wheels, oil cooler, magnesium-alloy body
built to superleggera patent technique, full leather trim in the cabin and even
a fire extinguisher. All models have two doors and are of a 2+2 configuration.
Like the
DB4, the DB5 used a live rear axle. At the beginning, the original four-speed
manual (with optional overdrive) was standard fitment, but it was soon dropped
in favour of the ZF five-speed. A three-speed Borg-Warner DG automatic
transmission was available as well. The automatic option was then changed to
the Borg-Warner Model 8 shortly before the DB6 replaced the DB5.
Today we
look back fifty years to the DB5 and it's perfect fit in the James Bond World,
and we pay homage to it's uniqueness and impact. But ask yourself - looking at
the latest Bond films (Spectre) and culture in general, in fifty more years
what are we creating that we will have to look back on with the same
admiration? Will seeing the DB5 inspire the same reaction then as it does
today? All we'll see is six movies - out of eight since 1994 - begging us to
remember that time James Bond drove a DB5. It's time to kill your darlings.
