It was a special moment when 007 pulled that gleaming DB5 out of a hidden London garage in Skyfall. For once, it wasn’t a service issue super car; it was Mr Bond’s personal possession, a car so beautiful, so timeless and so sophisticated that the man himself chose it as his own. Now that was rather appealing.

The moment became even more wonderful for Aston enthusiasts with the realisation that the DB5 had come full circle. First debuting as Sean Connery’s wheels in 1964’s Goldfinger, the status of the DB5 was well and truly cemented once again through holding such prominence in Skyfall. The sight of the silver birch beauty cruising through the Scottish highlands was also a high point for classics enthusiasts; could the DB5 be any more suited to such a regal scene?

After getting wind of the fact the Bond DB5 will be turning up at the Classic Motor Show, we just had to begin a frenzied typing of an Aston Martin dedicated post to document the DB5’s incredible filmography.

Of course we’ll be focusing on the DB5 heavily, but that isn’t to say we won’t be spinning by the DBS and Vanquish too…

Goldfinger (1964)

Enter the DB5. The DB5 debuts in the 3rd James Bond film and starts what is going to be a beautiful relationship. Writer Ian Fleming described Bond’s lusty automobile as an Aston Martin DB mark 3 in the book, but since the DB5 had rolled off the production line one year earlier (1963), it became the obvious choice as Sean Connery’s run-around.

Thunderball (1965)

It’s hard to believe that Bond’s cars ever last more than a 3 month stint of car chases, boot concealed weaponry and built-in torpedo hatches, but luckily Goldfinger’s DB5 lived to see another day and shone once again in Thunderball. Of course the car (DP216/1) was modified to keep up with current advances in technology (ahem) and boasted a rear facing water cannon and a boot jetpack. A 1486/R was additionally used for road use and close shot scenes.

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)

George Lazenby’s Bond may be but a flash in the pan compared to the trusty reign of Moore, Connery, Brosnan and Craig, but Lazenby’s debut signified a new Aston triumph – The DBS. Introduced in 1967, the Secret Service model would still have been equipped with the DB6 engine, as the DBS V8 wasn’t launched until 1970. With less defined lines and a design slightly reminiscent of American muscle cars, the early DBS, in this Aston lover’s opinion, just couldn’t compete with the elegance of the DB5.

The Living Daylights (1987)

Another fair weather Bond came in the form of Timothy Dalton and another Aston came in the form of the V8 Vantage. Both the Volante and Coupe versions were utilised in the film and came equipped with those must-have tyre spikes. Obviously.

Golden Eye (1995)

The DB5 returns in an epic car chase fronted by Pierce Brosnan. A welcome debut by Brosnan and a triumphant return for the DB5.

Die Another Day (2002)

The V12 Vanquish may not have had a traditional entrance i.e. it was rolled in as an invisible entity on a pallet as opposed to showcased in a car chase around the Italian Riviera, but that made it none the less special as John Cleese’s ‘Q’ uttered “they [Aston Martin] call it the Vanquish, we call it the Vanish”.

Bond: “Oh very good”.

Very good indeed. An awesome machine was unveiled and the seed of future invisibility was planted. The V12 was a winner from the start. It also uprooted an unsuspecting villain on a snow rider; always cool.

Casino Royale (2006)

Both Daniel Craig and the new DBS were revealed and spun rather spectacularly in Casino Royale (7 times to be precise). The flipped car wasn’t actually a DBS however; it was a modified DB9 as the DBS wasn’t yet finished. Aside from the spanking brand new DBS, the DB5 popped up once again, making Casino Royale a truly Aston dominated film.

Quantum of Solace

Craig’s reign is cemented as both he and the new DBS enjoy their second outing. Quantum of Solace received mixed reviews, but the Aston was a shining star if not a particularly iconic addition after being showcased in Casino Royale.

Skyfall

As Bond returns home, the DB5 was the obvious choice. While there is dispute as to how Bond came to possess his personal DB5, the return of this model was a fantastically good choice for a more sophisticated portrayal. Just take a look at those stunning vintage number plates too, an absolute necessity for any car with classic credentials.

Aston may be the definitive Bond appointed brand, but the DB5 has triumphed in a heyday spanning an almost impossible 50 years. So we’ll be waiting patiently as the ultimate English gentleman’s car is unveiled at the Classic Motor Show this month, it’s not often we get to admire a machine with such style, longevity and enviable heritage.

If you still haven’t got your hands on your tickets then pop over to Facebook to enter our Classic Motor Show competition! Equally if you’re lucky enough to be showcasing your pride and joy at the show, then take a look at our range of custom number plates – perfect for show days and events.