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Aston Martin DB5 re-creates life-size Corgi diecast toy car for 007 movie

To promote the upcoming James Bond film "No Time To Die," Aston Martin has turned a DB5 into a life-size toy car. In fact, the car itself is kind of a giant toy, one of the $3.6 million DB5 Goldfinger Continuation models that mimic the movie car with mock machine guns and rotating license plates. Now, it has a giant vintage Corgi Toys box to match. The original Corgi 007 Aston Martin DB5 toy debuted in October 1965, about a year after the "Goldfinger" movie showed Sean Connery behind the wheel of the gadget-infused spy-mobile. According to some estimates, the Corgi sold 4 million copies in four years, making it the best-selling toy car in history. Over the years, Corgi has retooled and re-released the model several times, selling over 20 million in total. The big box, unveiled at London's Battersea Power Station, re-creates Corgi's original release packaging complete with period artwork. In 1965, according to Aston Martin, the toy car sold for just 50 pence, the equivalent of just under $14 today when accounting for inflation. You can still get a new one for about $20, but first-release models can run up to $350 in good condition. The DB5 Goldfinger Continuation is one of just 25 cars built by Aston Martin's Heritage Division, the same outfit that brought you continuation models of the DB4 GT and DB4 Zagato. However, while those are faithful re-creations of the original cars, the DB5 Goldfinger is a little different. The cars are built as the original DB5s were, taking about 4,500 hours each and emerging from the same workshop in Newport Pagnell as the 1963 models did. In this case, the intriguing DB5 Goldfinger was developed in conjunction with Chris Corbould, the special-effects coordinator on the last 14 Bond movies and the individual responsible for modifying several of the picture cars. The cars have been outfitted with oil slicks, Browning machine guns that pop out from behind the lights, and a bulletproof shield that rises from the rear to protect the rear windscreen from villainous rounds. None of these things actually work — the oil is really water, the guns emit a bang-bang noise and flash some LEDs — but even so, the car is not street legal. It also comes with a rotating license plate holder and a roof panel shaped like Bond's ejector seat exit. There is, of course, no ejector seat.

Aston Martin will build your dream garage

If you're like us, you've probably seen Tony Stark's garage or the various iterations of Batman's Batcave and thought, "It would be so cool to have a garage like that." Aston Martin would like to help you make that dream come true with the companies new Automotive Galleries and Lairs department. And yes, "lairs" really is part of the official name. It's possible the company spent a little too much time working on James Bond films. Then again, it does seem like an apt term for some of the design concepts the company has dreamed up. The underground concrete and rock wall garage with glass car centerpiece certainly looks like something Blofeld or Dr. No would have at their summer homes. There are more conventional looking concepts, too, such as the blend of art gallery and garage with a water covered skylight for unique lighting. The underground garage with spiral driveway and naturally-lit center display is spare and beautiful. If these don't appeal to you, we're certain Aston Martin will work with you to develop your personal interpretation of a dream garage. No pricing has been given, as it's surely going to vary from garage to garage. You can also rest assured that all of these will cost a remarkable amount of money. If you have the means, Aston Martin is happy to receive your request at ampartnerships@astonmartin.com.

Aston Martin investor says demand is 'phenomenal,' returned first in China

LONDON - Carmaker Aston Martin is seeing "phenomenal" demand, boosted by a rebound in China, the company's executive chairman and billionaire investor Lawrence Stroll said on Friday. "Demand right now is phenomenal," he told the Financial Times' "The Future of the Car" digital conference. "China really returned first and strongest, and is gangbusters." Stroll led a consortium which invested in Aston earlier this year as the carmaker struggled following its 2018 stock market flotation, after which its share price slumped. Since then a new chief executive has taken over and the 107-year company, famed for being fictional agent James Bond's car of choice, did a deal in October which sees German carmaker Daimler up its stake in the firm. Shareholders approved the latest capital injection plan on Friday. Stroll said Aston's current growth trajectory meant "the public markets are the right place" for the firm whilst eying an increase in the value of its shares, which stand at 79 pence ($1.06). "They'll be significantly worth more than they are today," he said. Reporting by Costas Pitas, editing by David Milliken and Louise Heavens