007 and Aston Martin: 50 years of elegant espionage

Smooth, posh, and undoubtedly sexy – Aston Martin really does elevate the driving senses. No wonder that it had made many 007 James Bond movies a chart-topping success since its first appearance as the super sly British Superspy’s car in 1964.

It’s been half a decade since then, and to this day, this strong “Bond” still continues to dominate the international spy movie genre. In light of this cinematic milestone and as a means to somewhat usher in a brand that will be landing here in the Philippnes very soon, get ready to embark on a reconnaissance mission with an objective to know and appreciate some of the iconic Aston Martin vehicles that have helped Mr. Bond in his crime-fighting adventures behind enemy lines.

Our sneaking point begins exactly fifty years ago in 1964 during the premier of the British spy movie’s third instalment entitled “007: Goldfinger” starring Sean Connery. In the Ian Fleming novel with which the film was based on, 007 originally used an Aston Martin DB Mark III, but the film producers decided that the latest Aston Martin DB5 should be used, since it was brand new and was the brand’s latest flagship at the time. Upon premiering, the 1964 Aston Martin DB5 was then showcased at the 1964 New York World’s Fair, thus achieving instantaneous popularity, catapulting sales for both the car and the movie to an astonishing level. In the film, the DB5 was dressed to match the aura of the legendary fictional superspy. Painted in the iconic “Silver Birch”, the car’s film role sparked a series of equally iconic 007 movies that served as building blocks for a solid partnership for many years to come.

the Aston Martin DB5 came with a 4L inline 6-Cylinder engine as standard. Its powertrain remained untouched for the film, including its 5-Speed MT and RWD configuration

In the 1965 film “007: Thunderball”, Sean Connery donned the 007 tuxedo yet again, and also making a come-back is the now-iconic Aston Martin DB5, which featured a much more action-oriented look. Fitted with a rear-facing water cannon and a powerful jetpack, conveniently stowed away under the boot, this car was a true force to reckon with on the road for the films army of antagonists.

In both appearances, the Aston Martin DB5 came with a 4L inline 6-Cylinder engine as standard. Its powertrain remained untouched for the film, including its 5-Speed MT and RWD configuration.

1967 saw the introduction of the Aston Martin DBS, which was the spiritual successor to the already beloved Aston Martin DB6. The DBS featured a beefier 4.0L inline 6-Cylinder engine, routed through a 5-Speed MT, giving motion to the rear wheels.

Success was inevitable for the ‘67 DBS to the point of it being used as Bond’s newest car in the 1969 spy flick “007: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” (007’s 6th movie), starring George Lazenby. Aesthetically modified to be as menacingly elegant as its superspy driver, the Bond version DBS featured a glove-box-mounted sniper rifle as its only weaponry. The DBS made high-waves again in the franchise’s 7th iteration entitled “007: Diamonds Are Forever” with the return of Sean Connery in 1971.

The V8 Vantage sported a massive 5.3L V8 engine, mated to a 5-Speed MT, powering the rear wheels and reaching about 270kph, making it Britain’s very first supercar.

After almost two decades of absence, the Aston Martin Brand re-emerged in the spy movie franchise’s 15th sequel “007: The Living Daylights”. In his first time to assume the role of the posh British superspy, Timothy Dalton made it look flawlessly easy, on-board the already successful Aston Martin V8 Vantage. The V8 Vantage sported a massive 5.3L V8 engine, mated to a 5-Speed MT, powering the rear wheels and reaching about 270kph, making it Britain’s very first supercar.

A British supercar, driven by a British Superspy? No problem! In addition, the car was made even better when looking in to its Bond-mod spec sheet. Loads of offensive and defensive weapons and gadgetry were bolted on to the V8 Vantage for the move, including tire spikes, rear license plate mounted jet engine, fog light concealed heat-seeking missiles, and as a last resort… a self-destruct system.

As the 90’s began and progressed, a new vibe was felt when the 17th Bond film premiered. More action-packed, more fast-paced, and more memorable, as Pierce Brosnan made it a spectacular one in the 1995 Bond film “007: Goldeneye”. Being represented in an awesome way, the film, with its juiced-up chase scenes, required a car that was as equally action-packed as its driver, and that car was none other than the legendary Aston Martin DB5, which has already become an automotive icon, transcending generations of car enthusiasts and James Bond fans alike. Kept simple with minimal weaponry, the Goldeneye Aston Martin DB5 proved to be a menace to 007’s enemies.

By the spy movie franchise’s 20th edition, another Aston Martin stormed the headlines as one of the coolest Bond cars to ever grace the big screen. Debuting in 2002’s “007: Die Another Day”, the first Aston Martin V12 Vanquish made a spectacular appearance as a car which is arguably one of the most fully-loaded rides the British Superspy has ever laid his hand on.

Dubbed by Agent Q as the “Vanish”, this car can literally vanish on sight, thanks to its “adaptive camouflage”, which essentially made it invisible to the naked eye. It also gets armed with torpedoes, missiles, spiked tires, and many more cool things that would help Mr. Bond one-up his opponents.

The V12 Vanquish is fitted with a 6-Liter Non-Turbo V12 engine, fused to a 6-Speed MT, providing movement for the rear wheels. Virtually untouched, these technical aspects worked in unison to provide 007 with more than enough power and performance on the road… or on thick sheets of ice.

Aston Martin was on a high-roll ever since the spy movie franchise first appeared on the big screen, and that momentum was felt even more in the franchise’s 21st edition. In the 2006 film 007: Casino Royale” starring Daniel Craig as the new Bond, Aston Martin made a one-two-punch, showing off the classic DB5, along with their latest DBS, which now has a monstrous V12 engine.

By the last quarter of 2008, the film “007: Quantum Of Solace” premiered in a spectacular fashion, as Daniel Craig once again returns as the super sly British Superspy. A direct plot sequel to the Casino Royale, this film featured the former’s Aston Martin DBS V12, which was seen blazing through scenic Italian mountain-passes, while being battered and peppered with bullets and battle scars, right at the beginning of the film.

Nearly 50 years since its first movie appearance as 007’s ride, the classic Aston Martin DB5 was at it again, serving as the British Superspy’s car in the 2012 film “007: Skyfall”, with Daniel Craig again donning the iconic 007 tuxedo.

Half a century of an action-packed partnership between Agent 007 James Bond and Aston Martin, a partnership on a quest to conduct espionage in style.

It is now 2015 - Half a century of an action-packed partnership between Agent 007 James Bond and Aston Martin, a partnership on a quest to conduct espionage in style. As this year marks the action espionage movie’s 24th iteration, a new adventure dawns. Announced last December 4 2014, the newest Bond film, entitled “007: Spectre”, shall showcase a returning Daniel Craig as James Bond; on board an entirely-new Aston Martin – the smooth and sleek Aston Martin DB10.

Specially made for the film, this new Aston was revealed as the film’s “first cast member”, and judging from that cliff-hanging one-liner, your guess is as good as ours on how this car will perform. All that is known is that this new Aston Martin shall be the benchmark for the future design language of the iconic British automaker’s elite line of supercars.

What a way to celebrate 50 years of high-speed crime-fighting.

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