Aston Martin owners toast Bond link
James Bond has smashed up a few Aston Martins in his time, but vintage car owners gathered to celebrate how the spy came to the legendary British brand’s rescue.
Meeting against the stunning backdrop of the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, south east London, the Aston Martin Owners Club marked the 50th anniversary of the DB5.
The model was famously driven by Sir Sean Connery in Goldfinger, the third Bond movie released in 1964, forever linking Aston Martin to the world’s most famous secret agent.
Around 20 versions of the DB5 were on display at the meet, including the classic silver model used in blockbuster Skyfall, the latest Bond instalment.
Mark Donoghue, chairman of the club, explained how the DB5’s appearance in Goldfinger changed Aston Martin’s fortunes. The 50-year-old said: “Aston Martin has had a terribly turbulent financial history over the years and because of the introduction of product placement of an Aston Martin in the film everyone in the world automatically recognised it as an iconic mark and something recognisible with style, charisma and James Bond.
“Aston Martin’s have style, they’re not flash like a Ferrari, they are beautiful to look at, they sound fantastic and it’s the epitome of a British sports car.”
Judges kitted out in white overalls inspected around 50 Aston Martins on display, including a pristine model of the DB2, made in 1953 and considered one of the world’s first hatchbacks.
Paul Spires, general sales manager for Aston Martin, explained how the company got the DB5 seen in Skyfall ready for filming in just six weeks. He said: “The film company needed a car in a very short space of time and we were fortunate to find an owner that loaned us the car for them to use in the film.
“It is a terrific thing for Aston Martin to have the DB5 in the film again. The chassis number of this car is actually 007 and without Bond who knows where Aston Martin would be?”
This year also marks the centenary of Aston Martin and to celebrate it, all the Bond cars will be put on display in Kensington Palace on July 21.
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