While we often think of James Bond's cars as synonymous with Aston Martin, the iconic secret agent actually started his cinematic journey with a much more modest Sunbeam Alpine in the first 'Dr. No' movie released in 1962. A year later, Sean Connery drove a Bentley Mark IV in 'From Russia with Love.' However, the true symbol of Bond's automotive legacy is the DB5, introduced in the third film of the franchise, 'Goldfinger,' released in 1964. Six decades on, Aston Martin has unveiled a special edition DB12 to commemorate this milestone.
The luxury grand tourer has been meticulously customized by Aston Martin's Q division, renowned for its highly personalized vehicles. The name 'Q' is not just a random letter; it has deep connections to the Bond movies and Ian Fleming's novels. In the fictional world, Q is the Research & Development branch of the British Secret Service, and in reality, Q by Aston Martin is responsible for crafting high-end, bespoke Aston Martins. For the DB12 Goldfinger Edition, they have gone all out with unique features.
Inside, the car boasts 18k gold-plated accents that adorn the center console, rotary dial for drive modes, and gear selector. Gold is also used for the temperature, fan, and volume controls. The gear selector has been redesigned to resemble the golden tracker used by Agent 007. Additionally, metallic gold fibers are woven into the carbon fiber components. A subtle yet significant detail is the Eight of Hearts logo on the driver's sun visor, a nod to the playing card seen in the Miami pool scene in 'Goldfinger.' The seats are wrapped in leather featuring the fluted style of the DB5, complete with a Prince of Wales check perforation pattern, echoing Bond's suit. This theme extends to the headliner and door cards.
Externally, the DB12 Goldfinger Edition lacks the gadgets typically associated with Bond cars. The limited-run coupe is finished in Silver Birch to match the DB5 from 'Goldfinger.' It rides on 21-inch silver multi-spoke wheels with black calipers and features exclusive gold side strakes. The Aston Martin badge is silver with black enamel, and the 'Q' badge on the side indicates its special status. Aston Martin is producing only 60 units, one for each year since 'Goldfinger' premiered. Buyers will receive a bespoke car cover, a fancy key box, a Silver Birch Speedform model, a section of the Furka Pass scene from 'Goldfinger' on 35mm film, an individually numbered champagne bottle, four fancy glasses, and a 1-of-60 Aston Martin magazine.
An Aston Martin is expected to feature prominently in the next Bond film. The 26th installment is in the works, but a release date has not been confirmed, nor has the actor been announced to play James Bond. Daniel Craig's tenure has concluded, and producers promise a 'reinvention' of the series.
