If ever there was a reason to own an Aston Martin DB5, it would be the movie “Goldfinger”. The silver birch car driven by James Bond in the 1964 film was a hit with movie-goers and a boon to the British auto manufacturer.
Its six-cylinder engine, with dual-overhead cams, produced a respectable 282 horsepower, and was available with a handful of transmissions – a David Brown four-speed with overdrive, a ZF five-speed or a Borg-Warner automatic transmission. On the other hand, amenities like air conditioning and power steering never were offered in the DB5.
Despite the heady prices they have been commanding, these are cars that demand to be driven – a cross between a sports car and grand touring car. That combination of speed, agility and comfort make the DB5 an incredible car, an incredible buy and an incredible driving experience. –LS
SPECS:
Price: $50,000 to $120,000.
Engine: DOHV V-6
Horsepower: 282
Torque: 288 at 3850
Top Speed: 141 mph
Photos and VIDEO at right, including James Bond's introduction to the DB5 and the Goldfinger chase scene.
Full specs and review under the ARTICLE tab above.
I f ever there was a reason to own an Aston Martin, especially the DB5 model, it would have to be the movie “Goldfinger”. The silver birch car driven by James Bond in the 1964 film was a hit with movie-goers and a boon to the British auto manufacturer.
It also was has a huge impact on Rocky Santiago. After seeing the movie and, more importantly, the car, he promised himself that some day he would own a DB5. Years later, he bought his first Aston Martin, and since then he has been helping others to buy theirs.
For more than 25 years, from his shop in Oklahoma City, Santiago has been buying and selling Aston Martins, along with an assortment of other exotic cars. But the early Aston Martins remain special.
The “understated elegance” of the Aston Martin DB5 make these cars incredibly unique. “They are not super flashy and not over-chromed,” Santiago points out.
He prefers the word “subtle,” not a term usually associated with exotic automobiles. The cabins are appointed in Wilton wool and Connelly leather while the handcrafted body is built with hand-wrought alloy panels attached to a frame of tiny tubes, and mounted to a powerful dual-overhead cam six-cylinder engine.
“They are world-class assets,” Santiago says. And because there are so few of them in existence, the price of the DB5 has risen dramatically. Five years ago, a fully restored DB5 would sell for about $110,000.
Today, that same car is selling for more than three times that amount.
Still, there’s no problem finding buyers. “I’ve got a list of people who want a DB5,” he says. And of those 20 or so, who live around the world, each is prepared to buy at a moment’s notice.
Making matters even better, Aston Martin has what it calls its “program for life,” which provides parts of almost any sort for any Aston Martin, regardless of age.
Despite their value, the cars are great drivers, says Santiago, who still owns and drives his DB5. He has motored his across the country a number of times to attend Aston Martin functions without difficulty.
“They’re really like a cross between a sports car and grand touring car.” That combination of speed, agility and comfort make the DB5 an incredible car and an incredible investment.
By Lawrence Sanata. Photography by Rocky Sanata and Aston Martin.
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