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That and the truck SUV craze over here. The Golf and Country club parking lot is full off Ford F150's, Expeditions and full-length Suburbans as well as Range Rover's.
Your Favourite Car
- Thread starter Nick Real Deal
- Start date
That and the truck SUV craze over here. The Golf and Country club parking lot is full off Ford F150's, Expeditions and full-length Suburbans as well as Range Rover's.
steveperryman
Vital Football Legend
I've noticed a lot more compacts knocking about over here. The XC40 seems to be the car of choice at the moment. As their popularity grows i expect the SUV craze to settle down a little. Hybrids are also selling in big numbers.
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steveperryman
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I'm still a little hesitant as i don't see them as a viable option at this time, however government grants & 0% road tax is certainly encouraging. With these incentives demand seems to be on the rise so it looks like we're finally turning the corner.
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James Bond’s Car Comes to Life With Oil-Slick Sprayer, but No Ejector Seat
Aston Martin is re-creating the Bond DB5, as seen in “Goldfinger,” with all the (responsible) spy gear it could stuff into it.
James Bond’s 1965 Aston Martin DB5.Credit...Aston Martin
By Jerry Garrett
James Bond is lonely. It’s just 007 and his gadget-laden 1965 Aston Martin DB5 these days. He hasn’t had any company since his last passenger was ejected. His car phone can’t call anyone; for one thing, its inventor didn’t remember to include a dial. His radar-mapping system is frozen on some place in rural Sussex, and just emits beeps like a sonar signal from a submarine movie.
Even the fender-mounted machine guns seem to be out of bullets.
What’s an international man of mystery supposed to do these days for a bit of excitement?
Fortunately, Aston Martin has an answer: The 107-year-old British luxury carmaker is re-creating the Bond DB5 from the 1964 movie “Goldfinger,” starring Sean Connery, in painstaking detail. It is but one example — a really expensive one — of how auto manufacturers, including Land Rover, Jaguar and Porsche, have started reaching into their pasts to update some of their classic models and equipment.
A special run of 25 “Goldfinger Continuation” DB5s is being hand-built at the same facility in Newport Pagnell that produced all 898 originals between 1963 and 1965. The cars are finished in the same Silver Birch paint scheme, the interior leather is identical in color and texture, and the dashboard and gauges are as true to the original appearance as possible. Aston Martin even called upon the special-effects wizard from the Bond films, Chris Corbould, to supervise their re-creation.
Image
The actual Bond DB5 sold at auction last year for $6,385,000.Credit...Richard Drew/Associated Press
“Aston Martin is fastidious about authenticity,” said Paul Spires, head of Aston Martin Works. “And we have gone to very considerable lengths to ensure the equipment in the Continuation cars is as faithful to that seen in the film as possible.”
He added: “Aston Martin has sourced the cockpit instrumentation from the modern successor to the same supplier who made the original instruments in the 1960s. They appear, essentially, identical.”
The movie car was equipped with a lethal array of nonstandard gadgets, to aid Bond in his crime fighting. These included oil-slick sprayers, smoke-screen foggers, a retractable bullet-resistant shield, a passenger ejection seat, a nail spreader, hidden machine guns in the fenders and telescoping battering rams.
“The main challenge has been to recreate the gadgets from the film world and transfer them into a consumer product,” Mr. Corbould said. “We have license in the film world to ‘cheat’ different aspects under controlled conditions. For instance, we might have four different cars to accommodate four different gadgets. We obviously don’t have that luxury on these DB5s, as all the gadgets have to work in the same car all the time.”
There are also concessions to the real world. There will be no ejection seat, as no “non-mischievous” use could be identified for it. Same with the nail dumper. The oil and smoke sprayers will emit simulated substances. And the machine guns won’t fire ammunition.
“That would not be compliant with a very great number of laws and/or safety regulations!” Mr. Spires said. “However, the guns do appear to ‘work’ and have light bursts to indicate them ‘firing’ along with authentic gunshot sound effects amplified through speakers — for a very impressive effect.”
Image
The Bond car’s oil and smoke sprayers will emit simulated substances.Credit...Aston Martin
Most other gadgets will be updated behind their dials and exteriors, to function in the modern world.
“The ‘radar’ screen uses modern-day satellite navigation mapping to show, as a blinking point of light in the center of the screen, the position of the car at any given time,” Mr. Spires said. “It mimics the functionality of the car’s screen in the film,” which had a static map of seven counties in southern England affixed to it.
“Work is still ongoing on the phone functionality, and we will provide more detail to owners in due course,” he added. Although the corded handset in the movie car appeared groundbreaking, the car phone had been invented in 1946. Unlike the DB5’s phone, actual car phones at the time could make actual calls.
The most noticeable difference between the Continuation cars and the originals is the price. A 1965 DB5’s base price was $12,850, although the Bond car’s options would have added considerably to that. The Continuation cars are all priced at $3.5 million.
Despite some tough sledding in the luxury car market of late, Aston Martin reports that all 25 are sold. All are being built, and are expected to be delivered to their owners in the coming months.
Image
Sean Connery with a DB5 during the filming of “Goldfinger” in 1964.Credit...Aston Martin, via Reuters
It was once said an Aston Martin “costs as much as a house.” If one is talking about central London, perhaps that is still true. In any case, the Continuations are a veritable bargain compared with the actual Bond DB5, which sold for $6,385,000 at auction in Monterey, Calif., in August.
Aston Martin’s Continuation cars may be the most ambitious of such auto projects to date. But Land Rover got the ball rolling four years ago with a project to refurbish a handful of its original Series I sport utility vehicles, which first appeared in 1948. Jaguar built “continuation XJSS” models, hand-building — like Aston Martin — replicas from original blueprints.
On a more practical note, Porsche is using the down time during the pandemic to address some needs of cars it has already built, with a new Porsche Classic Communication Management system. It’s a way to retrofit classic Porsches with modern infotainment features.
Image
Porsche’s Classic Communication Management system offers a way to retro-fit classic Porsches with modern features.Credit...Porsche
Porsche’s Classic Shop online offers two systems — one that replaces the skinny dashboard radio in classic Porsches with a unit that’s the same size and offers Bluetooth, Apple Car Play, Android Auto and other abilities that are compatible with a 3.5-inch screen the system adds to the dash display. For newer models, a seven-inch version adds touch-screen ability and some slots for peripherals like USB and SD cards. The retro look is retained with period-correct rubber knobs and plastic push buttons.
This system can retrofit Porsches from the 1960s through the 1990s.
Pricing is expected to be under $1,500 for even the top-line units. That’s cheaper than, say, replacing a burned-out original unit.
Aston Martin is re-creating the Bond DB5, as seen in “Goldfinger,” with all the (responsible) spy gear it could stuff into it.
James Bond’s 1965 Aston Martin DB5.Credit...Aston Martin
By Jerry Garrett
- May 25, 2020
James Bond is lonely. It’s just 007 and his gadget-laden 1965 Aston Martin DB5 these days. He hasn’t had any company since his last passenger was ejected. His car phone can’t call anyone; for one thing, its inventor didn’t remember to include a dial. His radar-mapping system is frozen on some place in rural Sussex, and just emits beeps like a sonar signal from a submarine movie.
Even the fender-mounted machine guns seem to be out of bullets.
What’s an international man of mystery supposed to do these days for a bit of excitement?
Fortunately, Aston Martin has an answer: The 107-year-old British luxury carmaker is re-creating the Bond DB5 from the 1964 movie “Goldfinger,” starring Sean Connery, in painstaking detail. It is but one example — a really expensive one — of how auto manufacturers, including Land Rover, Jaguar and Porsche, have started reaching into their pasts to update some of their classic models and equipment.
A special run of 25 “Goldfinger Continuation” DB5s is being hand-built at the same facility in Newport Pagnell that produced all 898 originals between 1963 and 1965. The cars are finished in the same Silver Birch paint scheme, the interior leather is identical in color and texture, and the dashboard and gauges are as true to the original appearance as possible. Aston Martin even called upon the special-effects wizard from the Bond films, Chris Corbould, to supervise their re-creation.
Image
The actual Bond DB5 sold at auction last year for $6,385,000.Credit...Richard Drew/Associated Press
“Aston Martin is fastidious about authenticity,” said Paul Spires, head of Aston Martin Works. “And we have gone to very considerable lengths to ensure the equipment in the Continuation cars is as faithful to that seen in the film as possible.”
- Thanks for reading The Times.
He added: “Aston Martin has sourced the cockpit instrumentation from the modern successor to the same supplier who made the original instruments in the 1960s. They appear, essentially, identical.”
The movie car was equipped with a lethal array of nonstandard gadgets, to aid Bond in his crime fighting. These included oil-slick sprayers, smoke-screen foggers, a retractable bullet-resistant shield, a passenger ejection seat, a nail spreader, hidden machine guns in the fenders and telescoping battering rams.
“The main challenge has been to recreate the gadgets from the film world and transfer them into a consumer product,” Mr. Corbould said. “We have license in the film world to ‘cheat’ different aspects under controlled conditions. For instance, we might have four different cars to accommodate four different gadgets. We obviously don’t have that luxury on these DB5s, as all the gadgets have to work in the same car all the time.”
There are also concessions to the real world. There will be no ejection seat, as no “non-mischievous” use could be identified for it. Same with the nail dumper. The oil and smoke sprayers will emit simulated substances. And the machine guns won’t fire ammunition.
“That would not be compliant with a very great number of laws and/or safety regulations!” Mr. Spires said. “However, the guns do appear to ‘work’ and have light bursts to indicate them ‘firing’ along with authentic gunshot sound effects amplified through speakers — for a very impressive effect.”
Image
The Bond car’s oil and smoke sprayers will emit simulated substances.Credit...Aston Martin
Most other gadgets will be updated behind their dials and exteriors, to function in the modern world.
“The ‘radar’ screen uses modern-day satellite navigation mapping to show, as a blinking point of light in the center of the screen, the position of the car at any given time,” Mr. Spires said. “It mimics the functionality of the car’s screen in the film,” which had a static map of seven counties in southern England affixed to it.
“Work is still ongoing on the phone functionality, and we will provide more detail to owners in due course,” he added. Although the corded handset in the movie car appeared groundbreaking, the car phone had been invented in 1946. Unlike the DB5’s phone, actual car phones at the time could make actual calls.
The most noticeable difference between the Continuation cars and the originals is the price. A 1965 DB5’s base price was $12,850, although the Bond car’s options would have added considerably to that. The Continuation cars are all priced at $3.5 million.
Despite some tough sledding in the luxury car market of late, Aston Martin reports that all 25 are sold. All are being built, and are expected to be delivered to their owners in the coming months.
Image
Sean Connery with a DB5 during the filming of “Goldfinger” in 1964.Credit...Aston Martin, via Reuters
It was once said an Aston Martin “costs as much as a house.” If one is talking about central London, perhaps that is still true. In any case, the Continuations are a veritable bargain compared with the actual Bond DB5, which sold for $6,385,000 at auction in Monterey, Calif., in August.
Aston Martin’s Continuation cars may be the most ambitious of such auto projects to date. But Land Rover got the ball rolling four years ago with a project to refurbish a handful of its original Series I sport utility vehicles, which first appeared in 1948. Jaguar built “continuation XJSS” models, hand-building — like Aston Martin — replicas from original blueprints.
On a more practical note, Porsche is using the down time during the pandemic to address some needs of cars it has already built, with a new Porsche Classic Communication Management system. It’s a way to retrofit classic Porsches with modern infotainment features.
Image
Porsche’s Classic Communication Management system offers a way to retro-fit classic Porsches with modern features.Credit...Porsche
Porsche’s Classic Shop online offers two systems — one that replaces the skinny dashboard radio in classic Porsches with a unit that’s the same size and offers Bluetooth, Apple Car Play, Android Auto and other abilities that are compatible with a 3.5-inch screen the system adds to the dash display. For newer models, a seven-inch version adds touch-screen ability and some slots for peripherals like USB and SD cards. The retro look is retained with period-correct rubber knobs and plastic push buttons.
This system can retrofit Porsches from the 1960s through the 1990s.
Pricing is expected to be under $1,500 for even the top-line units. That’s cheaper than, say, replacing a burned-out original unit.
Most Favorite car ever...
1966 Chevelle SS - Big block 396 - Cherry Red... Built it from a piece of junk to a show car with my own hands. Totaled and burned in an accident in '97. Every shred of photo evidence of its existence burned in a fire in 1999. (1988-1997)
Runners up...
1969 Mustang Fastback - Bored 302 BOSS - Bondo as fuk.... Had wheelie bars, and I shit you not, they were necessary. Funnest straight track car everrrrrr.... (1990-1991)
1984 Ferrari 308 GTS - Used on the original Magnum PI tv show.... Obviously the most overall fun car to drive. (2002-2004)
2005 GTI - Murdered out black... Nothing needs to be said. (2005-2009)
2006 MB ML500 - Blacked out Luxury & custom trim.... Mini tank with a V8, comfy traveler & fast as fuk. (2006-255k miles to date)
Current Rides...
2019 AMG C63S - Its Black, w black, on black, and more black, with orange hilites... Is this my most favorite car ever? Might just be. (2018-now)
2018 F150 Raptor - Yes it's Black, all over the outside. Stoopid amount of custom accessories. (2018-now)... This is my most beastly auto. It's actually rather ridiculous tbh.
My next ride....
2021 Ford Bronco - 2 door version.... Drove one of these last month up in the desert, and yeah, it's gonna be awesome!
Would love to get my hand on one of the new Shelby GT500's.....
Were I made of money that is.
.
1966 Chevelle SS - Big block 396 - Cherry Red... Built it from a piece of junk to a show car with my own hands. Totaled and burned in an accident in '97. Every shred of photo evidence of its existence burned in a fire in 1999. (1988-1997)
Runners up...
1969 Mustang Fastback - Bored 302 BOSS - Bondo as fuk.... Had wheelie bars, and I shit you not, they were necessary. Funnest straight track car everrrrrr.... (1990-1991)
1984 Ferrari 308 GTS - Used on the original Magnum PI tv show.... Obviously the most overall fun car to drive. (2002-2004)
2005 GTI - Murdered out black... Nothing needs to be said. (2005-2009)
2006 MB ML500 - Blacked out Luxury & custom trim.... Mini tank with a V8, comfy traveler & fast as fuk. (2006-255k miles to date)
Current Rides...
2019 AMG C63S - Its Black, w black, on black, and more black, with orange hilites... Is this my most favorite car ever? Might just be. (2018-now)
2018 F150 Raptor - Yes it's Black, all over the outside. Stoopid amount of custom accessories. (2018-now)... This is my most beastly auto. It's actually rather ridiculous tbh.
My next ride....
2021 Ford Bronco - 2 door version.... Drove one of these last month up in the desert, and yeah, it's gonna be awesome!
Would love to get my hand on one of the new Shelby GT500's.....
Were I made of money that is.
.
Greavswasthegreatest
Vital Football Legend
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Right now it's my TR3A which is warming up in the driveway for a chilly October venture.
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Oh baby......
My neighbor has an A3 E-tron, it's pretty spectacular. Can only imagine what this GT will be like.
You should get one!
,
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I just put off buying the E-tron to wait for this. This and a Ford F150. My A7 is going in the next couple of weeks. It was my third Audi and one of my favourite cars. The GT is essentially the A7 E-tron.
Nick Real Deal
Vital Football Legend
My favourite cars do not move forward with technology.
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Then you'd love my TR3A which I am restoring.
Littlest Hobo
Vital 1st Team Regular
I have a Mercedes Vito campervan which i love to bits. I wanted one for years and years and i built the conversion myself so it will be my biggest love.
I have a Mercedes X250 on my drive which i hate and i have a new C Class every 3years which my next one should arrive in about 6weeks time C300 AMG.
All of the above are totally overpowered by my wifes Fiat 500. We have had it since new in 2012 and i would hand the keys over to all of them to drive that car. It has more character in its 1" tailpipe than all the others can muster.
I have a Mercedes X250 on my drive which i hate and i have a new C Class every 3years which my next one should arrive in about 6weeks time C300 AMG.
All of the above are totally overpowered by my wifes Fiat 500. We have had it since new in 2012 and i would hand the keys over to all of them to drive that car. It has more character in its 1" tailpipe than all the others can muster.
Littlest Hobo
Vital 1st Team Regular
Favourite cars i have ever been in. I used to do the milk delivery as a kid. We used to collect the money on a friday night in a mint Sierra Cosworth RS500. Absolutely genuine and unmolested.
He also had a genuine (Not just stickers and bodykit) RS1600i which was another favourite
He also had a genuine (Not just stickers and bodykit) RS1600i which was another favourite
Nick Real Deal
Vital Football Legend
One of my favourite cars was a Sierra. A 4x4 2.9 i V6. But not an XR4, it was a GLS which looked bog standard and caused lots of surprises for others and laughs for me watching them get smaller and smaller in my rear view mirror. I left a Cossie at 130 mph in my wake, he shat out , probably scared his would explode.
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This should make you happy Nick. My A7 is toast this week.
Nick Real Deal
Vital Football Legend
Ahhh the big wafting barge. To be replaced by an even heavier Q7 ?
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No.. The A7 is not a barge....40mpg on the highway and some kickarse acceleration for a saloon.
I have replaced it with an F150 SuperCrew Lariat with a 5.5' box which should get Walt rather hot.
Now we have to decide what we will replace our other daily with? A Lucid Air, a Model S, or an Audi GT.
1 Petrol. 1 Electric. And my TR3A.
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