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Aston Martin DB5 is a car much more than that in fact it is the representation of British sophistication, engineering, and film history. It is one of the classic and recognized cars that was unveiled in 1963 and has become one of the most iconic ones in the world of auto mobility.

Background to the Aston Martin DB5

• Manufacturer: Aston Martin Lagonda Limited
• Manufacture Period: 1963–1965
• Predecessor: Aston Martin DB4
• Successor: Aston Martin DB6
• Designer: Carrozzeria Touring of Milan (Superleggera technique)
• Body Style: 2-door coupe and convertible
• Total Units Produced: 1,059 (including variations)
• Price New (1963): Approximately £4,175 (or c. £90,000 adjusted to present-day dollars), the equivalent of approximately £4,175 (one’s thousands of £90,000 in today money terms)

Engine & Performance in Aston Martin DB5

• Type of the Engine: inline-six, 4.0-liter (3995 cc)
• Basing on: The previous one 3.7L in the DB4
• Valvetrain: DOHC (Double Overhead Camshaft)
• Fuel System: Triple SU carbs (later cars occasionally used Weber carbs instead)

Horsepower

• Standard: 282BHP (210 KW) @ 5500rpm
• Vantage spec: As much as 325 bhp (242 kW)

Torque

• Approximately 288 lb-ft (390 Nm)

Top Speed

• Nominal: 143 mph (230 km/h)
• Vantage: 148 or above mph (238 or above km/h)

0–60 mph

• About 8.0 seconds
• 0–60 mph in Vantage: only about 6.5 seconds

Transmission

• Originally 4-speed manual and overdrive
• Subsequent trim levels: 5spd ZF manual transmission
• 3-speed Borg-Warner automatic optional

Chassis, Suspension and Brakes in Aston Martin DB5

• Chassis Type: steel platform, Superleggera aluminum body panels

Suspension in Aston Martin DB5

• Front: Independent and Coil Springs with anti-roll bar
• Rear Suspension: Trailing arms and Watts linkage live axle

Brakes in Aston Martin DB5

• All round servo-aided Girling disc brakes (an improvement on the DB4)
• Reputed to have superb stopping ability of its day

Steering in Aston Martin DB5

• Rack and pinion

Exterior Styling

Highlights of Design

• Flowing lines: simple and sparse detailing
• Storied, big grille and twin headlamp clusters
• Chrome bumpers and polished wires wheels

Building Method

• Superleggera (lightweight aluminum covering on steel frame)

Dimensions of Aston Martin DB5

• Wheelbase: 2,489 mm (98 inches)
• Length: 4,570 mm (180 inches)
• Height: 1,346 mm (53 inches)
• Weight: 3312 lb approx. = 1502 kg (Curb Weight)

Interior Features in Aston Martin DB5

• Dashboard/Features: Hand made luxurious design with emphasis on grand touring comfort
• Materials: Quality leather, solid wood veneers and polished chrome

Features

• Complete instrumentation (speedometer, tachometer, oil pressure, fuel etc.)
• Power windows
• La-z-boy type seat
• Wool carpeting
• An optional air-conditioning (then unusual)

Driver Experience

• Beautiful, analogue, tactile – discreet gent’s cockpit

Modifications of the DB5

1. Classic DB5 Coupe

• The commonest form
• Provided polished grand touring nature
• Reputation due to its versatility of comfort and performance

2. DB5 Vantage

• Top-of-the-line model
• It carried triple Weber carburetors and an increased ratio of compression
• It got manufactured in small amounts (approximately 65 of them)

3. DB5 Convertible

• Soft-top version
• Just 123 were produced
• Impossibly sought after and valuable now
• Extra hardtop stocked

4. Please see below the shooting brake, DB5

• A coachbuilt one-off estate bodied by Harold Radford
• Just 12 produced
• They were aimed at owners of country estates or owners of sporting interests (such as carrying dogs or golf clubs)

James Bond Connection

• Goldfinger (1964), starring Sean Connery is the first appearance

The well-known features of the car of Bond are:

• Bulletproof shield
• Ejector seat
• Machine guns
• Rotating car registrations
• Oil dispenser slick

Reappears In:

• Thunderball (1965)
• GoldenEye (1995)
• Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
• Casino Royale (2006)
• Skyfall (2012)
• Spectre (2015)
• No Time To Die (2021)

Impact on Culture

• It put cement into pop culture on DB5
• Considered by many as the most well-known automobile in the world

Value & Collectibility of Aston Martin DB5

Current Market Value

• Depending on condition, provenance and variant, this ranges between $800,000 to over $3 million
• The premiums are highest on Vantage, Convertible models

Most Expensive Sale

• In 2019, an original DB5 with Bond gadgets in Goldfinger sold at auction for $6.4 million

Collector Appeal

• Limited production
• Bond association
• Handbuilt quality
• Typical 1960s style design

Restoration & Ownership

Maintenance

• Costs highly skilled personnel to maintain and repair – mechanically complex to the time
• Lots of components that can be sourced via Aston Martin heritage division

Restoration

• There are a lot of entirely repaired cars in special workshops
• Restomods are getting popular (e.g. DB5, but with updated internals)

Today Driving Experience

• Still retains the lovely, analogue touch
• Weaker than modern supercars, but not in terms of character

Continuation Cars and Tributes

Modern day Tributes embedded with continue make-ups are often built fiberglass or plastic.

Aston Martin DB5 (2020) Continuation

• Aston Martin Works constructed it in Newport Pagnell
• 25 units in production all feature working Bond gadgets
• Price: approximately $3 million a copy

EV Conversions

• Other restomods go electric conversions of DB5s
• Strictly in the minds of the purists, becoming popular

Modern Modeling Modeling With Inspiration

• The genealogy of the design of models such as DB11, DBS Superleggera, among other Aston Martins consists of the DB5