Daniel Craig's Aston Martin 2014 Centenary Edition Vanquish, numbered 007 was sold for $468,500 (approx. £335,000 / €380,000) at The Exceptional Sale at Christie’s in New York on Friday 20 April 2018.

Proceeds of the sale will benefit The Opportunity Network, an organisation which helps young people with career development. Both Daniel Craig and his wife, actress Rachel Weisz, sit on the charity's board.

Daniel Craig reportedly made a surprise appearance during the auction, joining the Christie's team to encourage a client to bid higher.

The car was estimated to fetch between $400,000 - $600,000.

The limited-edition Aston Martin features a bespoke exterior and interior directed by Marek Reichman, Aston Martin’s Chief Creative Officer, in collaboration with Daniel Craig. Craig’s preference for denim and dark colours resulted in the unique midnight-blue exterior and deep blue, hand-stitched, luxury leather interior.

Daniel Craig customised his Vanquish to reflect his penchant for denim and dark colours
Photo by Christie's

"This Aston Martin Vanquish is a tour de force of automobile engineering and a distinct pleasure to drive," says Craig. "While I will miss it, I am keen to further the very important work of The Opportunity Network with its sale."

In 2014, Aston Martin created just 100 examples worldwide of the Centenary Edition Vanquish to celebrate the firm’s 100th anniversary. Designed and hand-built at Aston Martin’s global headquarters in Warwickshire, England, the Vanquish features a 6.0-litre V12 petrol engine and an automatic gearbox. The car has a lightweight bonded aluminium structure combined with a motorsport-inspired carbon-fibre exterior, while the handcrafted interior was crafted from fine luxury leathers, carbon fibre and aluminium. The Centenary Edition Vanquish has a top speed of 183 mph.

The winning bidder will also have the opportunity to visit the Aston Martin Headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, and meet with Reichman for a behind-the-scenes tour of the production facilities, including the chance to observe each step of the car’s manufacturing from start to finish.

Daniel Craig as James Bond never drove a Vanquish in the films, but he drove an Aston Martin DBS in Casino Royale (2006) and Quantum of Solace (2008), an Aston Martin DB5 in SkyFall (2012) and a DB5 and the special DB10 in SPECTRE (2015). Pierce Brosnan as James Bond drove the first generation Vanquish in Die Another Day (2002). Brosnan himself also owned a Vanquish which he drove around in LA, but sadly was destroyed in a fire in 2015.

Aston Martin and Triton Submarines have announced successful completion of the design phase for Project Neptune, a submersible perfectly suited for James Bond. The companies are starting with the first production model ahead of its public unveiling later this year.

The side design of the submarine invokes the image of James Bond's Q-Boat from The World Is Not Enough.

Since the announcement of the creative collaboration in September 2017, Aston Martin and Triton have worked meticulously to refine the detailed design of the submersible’s hydrodynamics, body styling and luxurious interior packaging.

For a vehicle to wear the iconic Aston Martin wings, it must be equipped with all the performance, beauty and elegance one has come to expect from the British marque. To earn Tritons's signature trident, the submersible must be safe, reliable and offer its passengers near 360º visibility. The final design of the submersible is testament to the extraordinary attention to detail of both design teams and reflects the complimentary values of each company.

To mark this key milestone, Project Neptune’s final technical specification was announced today, confirming that the submersible will be able to dive to depths of 500 metres and carry two passengers and a pilot. By improving the hydrodynamic efficiency, reducing frontal area, and increasing the power; the submersible will have an anticipated sprint speed in excess of 5 knots and approximately four times the acceleration of Triton’s flagship 3300/3 model.

Marek Reichman, Aston Martin EVP and Chief Creative Officer commented: “The exterior design of Project Neptune owes a lot to the pursuit of performance. As with the Aston Martin Valkyrie, the hyper-car we are developing with Red Bull Advanced Technologies, we have afforded as much attention to the hydrodynamics of the underside as we have the visible surfaces. Some of that detail may never be seen, but its effect will certainly be felt.

“Project Neptune’s interior was a great challenge. Unlike a sports car where the interiors are installed into an open-sided cabin before the doors are fitted, everything you see inside will be lowered through the upper-hatch and assembled within the completed sphere of the pressure hull. We have been able to present a congruous aesthetic that defies its multi-part complex installation.”

John Ramsay, Chief Technical Officer at Triton Submarines, commented: “The work we have done together on the exterior of the submersible pleases me most. I’m particularly proud of our joint development of the acrylic canopy and iridium coating. The prototypes look incredible, being simultaneously functional and beautiful.

John added: “The interior is quintessentially Aston Martin – a luxurious mix of hand-stitched leather and high-performance carbon fibre, assembled without obstructing the panoramic sight-lines that Triton submersibles are famous for.”

A range of three Designer Specifications created by Aston Martin’s in-house design team demonstrate the breadth of expression available through considered combinations of colour and trim, each accentuating Project Neptune’s sporting, luxury and maritime characteristics. Customisation and personalisation options will be available courtesy of Aston Martin’s bespoke service, Q by Aston Martin.

Aston Martin and Triton Submarines will be welcoming prospective buyers to explore such possibilities at this week’s LYBRA Superyacht Show in Barcelona, Spain. Those wishing to secure one of the remaining build-slots for Project Neptune should contact either their preferred Aston Martin dealer or their nominated Triton Submarine’s representative.

The submarine will reportedly cost approx. $4 million. You can register your interest in this submersible on the Aston Martin website.

In a coordinated social media post, the LEGO, Aston Martin and 007 Twitter accounts basically revealed that there finally will be an officially licenced LEGO 007 set.

This is what the Twitter conversation said:

@LEGO_Group:
We’ve been thinking about creating a special Secret (Service) model that could help an agent out in a tricky situation. Any ideas? @astonmartin #LicenceToBuild

@astonmartin:
We may have a few ideas for what the special model could be… :) #LicenceToBuild

@007:
Licence to build is authorised #LicenceToBuild

From the conversation it's not clear if it will be a one-off model (most likely an Aston Martin DB5, perhaps a large LEGO Technic model with many working gadgets), or if this will be the beginning of a long lasting deal with many 007 branded models, characters and sets, similar to the Star Wars, Jurassic World, Superheroes and Harry Potter series.

Fans have been asking for official LEGO 007 models for years and of course have been very creative in creating their own Bond cars and characters from LEGO, sometimes including detailed instructions.

The possibilities for the LEGO 007 products are endless, and even an animated TV series or at least an appearance of a James Bond character in a LEGO movie or episode are potential ideas.

There might be tie-ins with Bond 25 which will be released at the end of 2019, but we would not be surprised if the first 007 LEGO model(s) will be available at Christmas 2018, if not earlier. Stay tuned at Bond Lifestyle for more news.

Aston Martin and EON Productions announced that 25 Aston Martin Goldfinger DB5 continuation cars will be produced.

Aston Martin DB5 and Sean Connery in Goldfinger

The 25 cars will be authentic reproductions of the DB5 seen on screen, with some sympathetic modifications to ensure the highest levels of build quality and reliability (a concept also used for the Aston Martin DB4 G.T. Continuation model series that was built in 2016).

A further three cars will be built – one each for EON and Aston Martin, plus another to be auctioned for charity.

Aston Martin DB5 in Thunderball

The Aston Martin Goldfinger DB5 continuation cars will include working gadgets such as revolving number plates and more, which were made famous in Goldfinger. The gadgets will be co-developed with Oscar-winner Chris Corbould, special effects supervisor from the James Bond films. Officially sanctioned by Aston Martin and EON Productions, all the Goldfinger edition cars will be produced to one specification – Silver Birch paint – just like the original.

All 25 cars will be built at Aston Martin Works at Newport Pagnell – the original home of the DB5.

The first customer deliveries scheduled for 2020, but the car is truly a collector's item: none of the cars will be road legal, so use of the car is limited to track days and museums.

The most instantly recognisable car of all-time, the DB5 made its first appearance in the third James Bond movie, Goldfinger, alongside Sean Connery as James Bond. Laden with gadgets and armaments installed by Q Branch, the secret agent’s Aston Martin became an instant hit with moviegoers.

Aston Martin DB5 in GoldenEye

Since its seminal appearance in Goldfinger the DB5 has featured in a further six James Bond movies: Thunderball (1965), again with Connery; GoldenEye (1995) and Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) with Pierce Brosnan and three appearances alongside Daniel Craig in Casino Royale (2006), SkyFall (2012) and SPECTRE (2015).

Aston Martin DB5 in Tomorrow Never Dies

Such was its popularity, the DB5’s movie debut even spawned a Corgi die-cast model, an astonishing 2.5m of which were sold in its first year of production (1965). No wonder an entire generation of children grew-up aspiring to own an Aston Martin.

Aston Martin DB5 in SkyFall

Andy Palmer, President and Chief Executive Officer, Aston Martin, said: “The connection between Aston Martin and James Bond is something of which we are very proud and it is remarkable that the DB5 remains the definitive James Bond car after so many years. To own an Aston Martin has long been an aspiration for James Bond fans, but to own a Silver Birch DB5, complete with gadgets and built to the highest standards in the very same factory as the original James Bond cars? Well, that is surely the ultimate collectors’ fantasy. The skilled craftspeople at Aston Martin Works and the expert special effects team from the James Bond films are about to make this fantasy real for 25 very lucky customers.”

Aston Martin DB5 and Sean Connery in Goldfinger

Paul Spires, Managing Director at Aston Martin Works, added of the Goldfinger DB5 continuation editions: “The connection between Aston Martin and James Bond originated more than half a century ago. Creating 25 Goldfinger DB5 continuations and working with EON Productions and special effects supervisor, Chris Corbould, is something truly unique and a real career highlight for everyone involved here at Aston Martin Works.”

Each Goldfinger DB5 continuation car will be priced at £2.75m plus taxes. First deliveries to customers will commence in 2020.

Seven Iconic Aston Martin James Bond cars will be in central London to celebrate ‘Global James Bond Day’ this Friday, October 5th 2018.

The Aston Martin DB5 from GoldenEye with its own parking space at the London Film Museum, Bond in Motion Exhibition, on 21 March 2014
photo © 007.com

Aston Martin Lagonda has teamed up with EON Productions and Sky to celebrate Global James Bond Day launching a prize draw for fans, giving them a chance to win a wide screen television and Sky Q package.

Aston Martin cars are driven by James Bond in eleven of the 007 films; Goldfinger (1964), Thunderball (1965), On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969), The Living Daylights (1971), GoldenEye (1995), Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), Die Another Day (2002), Casino Royale (2006), Quantum of Solace (2008), SkyFall (2012) and SPECTRE (2015).

Throughout Friday, four iconic Aston Martins from the 007 films, the DB10, V8 Vantage, DB5 and DBS will be driving through central London passing major landmarks and James Bond film locations. 

Aston Martin DB5 and DB10 on display during an event at Goodwood to promote the launch of the Forza Horizon 4 James Bond Car Pack, September 2018
photo © 007.com

Grab a selfie with the Die Another Day (2002) Vanquish, complete with bonnet mounted guns at Aston Martin Park Lane or hop over to Aston Martin Works’ heritage showroom on Dover Street where you will find the battle-scarred Quantum of Solace (2008) DBS.

Visit the ‘Bond in Motion’ exhibition at the London Film Museum and see the DBS from Casino Royale (2006) parked outside. Inside is the largest official collection of original James Bond vehicles.

Two Aston Martin DBS cars from Quantum of Solace on display during an event at Goodwood to promote the launch of Forza Horizon 4 James Bond Car Pack, September 2018
photo © 007.com

Aston Martin Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer, Simon Sproule said: “The connection between James Bond and Aston Martin reaches back through the decades so we are delighted to be supporting Global James Bond Day 2018. London is the home of 007 and fans should be on the lookout for some of the most exciting cars used by James Bond this Friday 5th October.”

Hints and tips will be posted throughout Friday on the @astonmartin and @007 social media channels, giving clues on the location of the cars, which will all bear decals to show they are Global James Bond Day cars. Photographs from the day should be posted on all social media channels, using the hashtags #JamesBondDay and #BondInMotion.

To be in with a chance of the a year-long Sky Q package and a 55” Ultra High Definition TV, please visit www.bondcompetition.co.uk.

Set out on a mission to discover the LEGO Creator Expert 10262 James Bond Aston Martin DB5 one of the world’s most famous vehicles.

The model was revealed in July 2019 in the LEGO Flagship store at Leicester Square by Ms. Moneypenny herself (actress Naomie Harris).

This gadget-laden set is available in select LEGO stores, and online at Amazon (USA, UK and Germany / EU), eBay and at Harrods.com.

Open the doors and you'll find an elaborate interior with a concealable radar tracker and a door compartment with telephone.

Other options include revolving number plates, raising the rear-window bulletproof screen, deploying the wheel-mounted tyre scythes and pulling back the gearstick to reveal the front wing machine guns. And of course a working passenger ejector seat!

A detailed straight-6 engine, drum-lacquered silver front and rear bumpers, front and rear Aston Martin logos and moulded silver-coloured wire wheel rim inserts add the finishing touches to this unique model, the first LEGO / James Bond partnership.

An Aston Martin DB5 James Bond 007 tribute model car in 1:1 scale is currently offered for sale on eBay.

The asking price is $165,000 (approx £130,000 or €145,000).

The Q Car, a full scale Aston Martin DB5 model, now on offer at eBay, see the original listing here

This hand made full-size model Aston Martin DB5 movie tribute car from the film Goldfinger is supporting many original parts and working gadgets. The car rolls and steers, and has a 110v plug and remote control to run the gadgets.

The model has been on display at several locations and events, including the 2016 Aston Martin Vancouver debut of the DB11, the 2016 Luxury Supercar weekend with Aston Martin, 2016 SEMA Show, Aston Martin Beverly Hills, Aston Martin Vancouver and  the Pacific Rim Fairmount Vancouver hotel.

The model, named The Q Car, was developed by car builder, motorcycle racer and customizer Olivier Spilborghs ("Q") in Vancouver, Canada. When he grew up, he saw one of the original 4 original Aston Martins used in Goldfinger in West Vancouver, where it was on display at Frank Baker’s restaurant The Attic for 13 years. This car switched hands a few times after that and is now owned by and displayed at the Louman Museum in The Netherlands.

A few years ago, inspired by his childhood memories of the car, he decided to create his own DB5 tribute car.

The Q Car took 5 years to build and search all the parts. The gadgets are handmade, and work either via switches or a custom remote control.

Working gadgets include:

- Retractable front machine guns with flashing stobes as “gun fire”

- Rear rotating plate that continues to show all 3 different plates

- Rear smoke screen

- Rear bullit screen

- GPS map with flashing light

- Tail light opens with oil slick nozzle

- Door panel pocket with phone

- Both rear spinners come out “tire slashers”

- Removable ejection roof section

- Centre console with gadget controls

- Timer controlled 007 hologram from door sides to floor

- Remote control runs all gadgets

The model is currently being re-painted and getting upgrades and will be available for delivery in March 2019.

Q is already working on a running DB5 car now, based on a real DB5, but with the added gadgets. We can't wait to see the result which will hopefully be done before the release of Bond 25.

Visit eBay for more information and photos of The Q Car DB5, or to make an offer. And follow the Q Car on Instagram at @theqcar for updates on the new DB5 project.

The Aston Martin DB10 is a unique car that was exclusively developed for the James Bond film SPECTRE. There were only 10 cars made, all for the use of the film. Some were destroyed, some ended up at the Bond In Motion exhibition and only 1 was ever sold publicly, during the 2016 Christie's James Bond Auction where it sold for £2.4m ($3m).

It took many months for brands like Corgi and Hot Wheels to release die-cast models in 1:32 scale and 1:18 scale.

Currently there are several models available, and Bond Lifestyle lists them here.

Scalextric Aston Martin DB10, scale 1:32

When SPECTRE was released in the cinema in November 2015, there were no die-cast car models available of the DB10. The first model of a DB10 was included in the Scalextric SPECTRE race set C1336.

Only on eBay this car can sometimes be found separately, This model can be used on any Scalextic race sets, features magnets to keep it on the track and working lights.

The Scalextric SPECTRE set does get bad reviews on Amazon (only 2 out of 5 stars on Amazon.co.uk and 3 out of 5 stars on Amazon.com) with many people being disappointed in the quality of the set or cars breaking down after a few hours. So if you don't want to spend $199 / £129 on the whole SPECTRE set, but want to complete your DB10 collection, get the car separately on eBay for about $30 / £30.

Corgi Aston Martin DB10, 1:32 scale

Early 2016 Corgi released the 1:32 scale die-cast model of the Aston Martin DB10, model nr CC08001. The model looks good, and the doors can open, which is a nice detail for this small scale. The Corgi DB10 is widely available online.
Buy on Amazon.com ($24.20)
Buy on Amazon.co.uk (£16.97)

In 2017, another release of the same car, now with model nr CC08002, is released, with a different box, part of a series of Bond related cars. This car is officially launched in November 2017, but can sometimes be found on eBay.

Toy State Aston Martin DB10, 1:32 scale

A fun version of the DB10 is the 1:32 scale model by Toy State. The doors can't open and the windows are black, but it comes with Bond music, working lights and engine sounds that are all activated via buttons on the roof. The car should cost around $20 / £14, which is about right for the quality and size of the car, but beware it is sometimes offered for much more on Amazon in the US or on eBay.
Buy on Amazon.com
Buy on Amazon.co.uk (£14.89)
Buy at Argos (£9.99)

Bond In Motion Aston Martin DB10, 1:43 scale

The Bond In Motion Official James Bond Die-Cast Collection, created by Eaglemoss, is launched throughout 2017 in different regions around the world and includes an Aston Martin DB10 1:43 scale model. The model is part of a larger subscription based collection, where every month you get 2 Bond vehicles and magazines about each vehicle. Each region has a different order and offer of vehicles, but the UK region just launched and you can get the first model in the collection, the Aston Martin DB10, for only £4.99 (read more here). The car comes in a plastic cover and witih a magazine about the car.
Order in the USA
Order in the UK (£4.99)

Hot Wheels Aston Martin DB10, 1:64 scale

A small 1:64 scale toy car of the DB10 is made by Hot Wheels. The car is not very detailed, as can be expected for this size and price range. Buying it via eBay is much cheaper than on Amazon.
Buy on Amazon.com ($14)
Buy on Amazon.co.uk (£13.50)
Find on eBay ($2 - $6)

Hot Wheels Elite Aston Martin DB10, 1:18 scale

One of the most recent DB10 models is also the best and most expensive die-cast model of the DB10. Hot Wheels Elite offers this beautifully detailed DB10 model for no less than £160 / $149 / €180. For that you do get opening doors, trunk and boot, and a properly detailed interior.

Available at high end car model shops or online.
Buy on Amazon.com ($149)
Buy on Amazon.co.uk (£172)

Nikko Aston Martin DB10 R/C model, 1:12 scale

Nikko, known for its remote control cars and now owned by Toy State, has produced two r/c models of the DB10: one very small car that can be controlled by a remote that looks like a watch, and a bigger model, scale 1:12 that has a black remote with 007 logo.

The 1:12 scale model is big (49cm long x 16cm high x 18cm wide) and should cost around £35 - £40 or €40 (it seems to be only available in Europe). It runs on 6 AA batteries and 3 AAA batteries for the remote. The car features headlights and sounds, including the James Bond theme.
Find on eBay
Buy on Bol.com (NL, €35)

Nikko Aston Martin DB10 R/C model, small (scale unknown)

The small remote controlled car has a remote in the shape of a watch. Don't expect much of this model, comments on Amazon have noted that the car is very small and not great quality. Don't pay more than a few dollars/pounds/euros for this model, if you can even find it.

Feber Aston Martin DB10 6v

The Feber Aston Martin DB10 6v is hardly a die-cast model, but definitely worth mentioning in this list. The DB10 is not very realistic, but all the more fun since it can actually be driven around or controlled by a smartphone if your child can't reach the pedals yet. A full charge of the 6V battery let's you(r kid) drive it around for approximately one hour, up to 3Mp/h or 4km/h.

The car has a foot operated electric engine and forward and reverse gears. This car is harder to find, but online for example in the UK at Amazon, or search on eBay. The price isn't too bad if you realize it's only slightly more than the 1:18 Hot Wheels Elite model.
Buy on Amazon.co.uk (£199)

Aston Martin DB10 Keyring

The official James Bond shop offers a nice DB10 keychain. The shape of the car is very well done and it has a chrome shine. The smallest Bond die-cast model available, but for only £13 / $17 / £15 this is a great collectible and useful gift!
Buy at 007 Shop

If you found any other DB10 models, or have any other suggestions, feel free to comment below, or send a message.

Today Aston Martin revealed the new Vantage. And it is clearly inspired by James Bond's Aston Martin DB10.

The new Aston Martin Vantage

The new Vantage is powered by a 4.0-litre, 510PS/685Nm twin-turbo V8. One should be able to outrun SPECTRE in this car with its maximum speed of 195mph and 0-60mph in 3.5 seconds.

Compare the DB10 (top) with the new Aston Martin Vantage (click to enlarge)

The Vantage reveals that Bond's Aston Martin DB10 was basically the nearly final prototype of the new Vantage. The overall body design and shape is exactly the same, with the main differences being the headlights, grille and bonnet, an extra opening on the side vent. The back of the car shows more elaborate led lights, different boot (trunk).

Compare the DB10 (top) with the new Aston Martin Vantage (click to enlarge)

Deliveries of the new Vantage are scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2018.

For more information, photos and videos of the Aston Martin Vantage, visit the Aston Martin website.

On 20 April 2018 an Aston Martin 2014 Centenary Edition Vanquish, numbered 007 and belonging to actor Daniel Craig, will be offered in The Exceptional Sale at Christie’s in New York.

The proceeds of the sale will benefit The Opportunity Network, an organisation which helps young people with career development.

The limited-edition car features a bespoke exterior and interior directed by Marek Reichman, Aston Martin’s Chief Creative Officer, in collaboration with Daniel Craig. Craig’s preference for denim and dark colours resulted in the unique midnight-blue exterior and deep blue, hand-stitched, luxury leather interior.

Daniel Craig customised his Vanquish to reflect his penchant for denim and dark colours
Photo by Christie's

"This Aston Martin Vanquish is a tour de force of automobile engineering and a distinct pleasure to drive," says Craig. "While I will miss it, I am keen to further the very important work of The Opportunity Network with its sale."

In 2014, Aston Martin created just 100 examples worldwide of the Centenary Edition Vanquish to celebrate the firm’s 100th anniversary. Designed and hand-built at Aston Martin’s global headquarters in Warwickshire, England, the Vanquish features a 6.0-litre V12 petrol engine and an automatic gearbox. The car has a lightweight bonded aluminium structure combined with a motorsport-inspired carbon-fibre exterior, while the handcrafted interior was crafted from fine luxury leathers, carbon fibre and aluminium. The Centenary Edition Vanquish has a top speed of 183 mph.

The Aston Martin will be on view at Christie’s Los Angeles gallery from 27 February until 3 March, ahead of the preview and auction in New York. The winning bidder will also have the opportunity to visit the Aston Martin Headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, and meet with Reichman for a behind-the-scenes tour of the production facilities, including the chance to observe each step of the car’s manufacturing from start to finish.

Estimated at $400,000-600,000, the car is left-hand drive and street-ready.

More information on Christies.com

Daniel Craig as James Bond never drove a Vanquish in the films, but he drove an Aston Martin DBS in Casino Royale (2006) and Quantum of Solace (2008), an Aston Martin DB5 in SkyFall (2012) and a DB5 and the special DB10 in SPECTRE (2015). Pierce Brosnan as James Bond drove the first generation Vanquish in Die Another Day (2002). Brosnan himself also owned a Vanquish which he drove around in LA, but sadly was destroyed in a fire in 2015.

Thanks to Frank Anderson for the alert

Daniel Craig's Aston Martin 2014 Centenary Edition Vanquish, numbered 007 was sold for $468,500 (approx. £335,000 / €380,000) at The Exceptional Sale at Christie’s in New York on Friday 20 April 2018.

Proceeds of the sale will benefit The Opportunity Network, an organisation which helps young people with career development. Both Daniel Craig and his wife, actress Rachel Weisz, sit on the charity's board.

Daniel Craig reportedly made a surprise appearance during the auction, joining the Christie's team to encourage a client to bid higher.

The car was estimated to fetch between $400,000 - $600,000.

The limited-edition Aston Martin features a bespoke exterior and interior directed by Marek Reichman, Aston Martin’s Chief Creative Officer, in collaboration with Daniel Craig. Craig’s preference for denim and dark colours resulted in the unique midnight-blue exterior and deep blue, hand-stitched, luxury leather interior.

Daniel Craig customised his Vanquish to reflect his penchant for denim and dark colours
Photo by Christie's

"This Aston Martin Vanquish is a tour de force of automobile engineering and a distinct pleasure to drive," says Craig. "While I will miss it, I am keen to further the very important work of The Opportunity Network with its sale."

In 2014, Aston Martin created just 100 examples worldwide of the Centenary Edition Vanquish to celebrate the firm’s 100th anniversary. Designed and hand-built at Aston Martin’s global headquarters in Warwickshire, England, the Vanquish features a 6.0-litre V12 petrol engine and an automatic gearbox. The car has a lightweight bonded aluminium structure combined with a motorsport-inspired carbon-fibre exterior, while the handcrafted interior was crafted from fine luxury leathers, carbon fibre and aluminium. The Centenary Edition Vanquish has a top speed of 183 mph.

The winning bidder will also have the opportunity to visit the Aston Martin Headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, and meet with Reichman for a behind-the-scenes tour of the production facilities, including the chance to observe each step of the car’s manufacturing from start to finish.

Daniel Craig as James Bond never drove a Vanquish in the films, but he drove an Aston Martin DBS in Casino Royale (2006) and Quantum of Solace (2008), an Aston Martin DB5 in SkyFall (2012) and a DB5 and the special DB10 in SPECTRE (2015). Pierce Brosnan as James Bond drove the first generation Vanquish in Die Another Day (2002). Brosnan himself also owned a Vanquish which he drove around in LA, but sadly was destroyed in a fire in 2015.

Aston Martin and Triton Submarines have announced successful completion of the design phase for Project Neptune, a submersible perfectly suited for James Bond. The companies are starting with the first production model ahead of its public unveiling later this year.

The side design of the submarine invokes the image of James Bond's Q-Boat from The World Is Not Enough.

Since the announcement of the creative collaboration in September 2017, Aston Martin and Triton have worked meticulously to refine the detailed design of the submersible’s hydrodynamics, body styling and luxurious interior packaging.

For a vehicle to wear the iconic Aston Martin wings, it must be equipped with all the performance, beauty and elegance one has come to expect from the British marque. To earn Tritons's signature trident, the submersible must be safe, reliable and offer its passengers near 360º visibility. The final design of the submersible is testament to the extraordinary attention to detail of both design teams and reflects the complimentary values of each company.

To mark this key milestone, Project Neptune’s final technical specification was announced today, confirming that the submersible will be able to dive to depths of 500 metres and carry two passengers and a pilot. By improving the hydrodynamic efficiency, reducing frontal area, and increasing the power; the submersible will have an anticipated sprint speed in excess of 5 knots and approximately four times the acceleration of Triton’s flagship 3300/3 model.

Marek Reichman, Aston Martin EVP and Chief Creative Officer commented: “The exterior design of Project Neptune owes a lot to the pursuit of performance. As with the Aston Martin Valkyrie, the hyper-car we are developing with Red Bull Advanced Technologies, we have afforded as much attention to the hydrodynamics of the underside as we have the visible surfaces. Some of that detail may never be seen, but its effect will certainly be felt.

“Project Neptune’s interior was a great challenge. Unlike a sports car where the interiors are installed into an open-sided cabin before the doors are fitted, everything you see inside will be lowered through the upper-hatch and assembled within the completed sphere of the pressure hull. We have been able to present a congruous aesthetic that defies its multi-part complex installation.”

John Ramsay, Chief Technical Officer at Triton Submarines, commented: “The work we have done together on the exterior of the submersible pleases me most. I’m particularly proud of our joint development of the acrylic canopy and iridium coating. The prototypes look incredible, being simultaneously functional and beautiful.

John added: “The interior is quintessentially Aston Martin – a luxurious mix of hand-stitched leather and high-performance carbon fibre, assembled without obstructing the panoramic sight-lines that Triton submersibles are famous for.”

A range of three Designer Specifications created by Aston Martin’s in-house design team demonstrate the breadth of expression available through considered combinations of colour and trim, each accentuating Project Neptune’s sporting, luxury and maritime characteristics. Customisation and personalisation options will be available courtesy of Aston Martin’s bespoke service, Q by Aston Martin.

Aston Martin and Triton Submarines will be welcoming prospective buyers to explore such possibilities at this week’s LYBRA Superyacht Show in Barcelona, Spain. Those wishing to secure one of the remaining build-slots for Project Neptune should contact either their preferred Aston Martin dealer or their nominated Triton Submarine’s representative.

The submarine will reportedly cost approx. $4 million. You can register your interest in this submersible on the Aston Martin website.

In a coordinated social media post, the LEGO, Aston Martin and 007 Twitter accounts basically revealed that there finally will be an officially licenced LEGO 007 set.

This is what the Twitter conversation said:

@LEGO_Group:
We’ve been thinking about creating a special Secret (Service) model that could help an agent out in a tricky situation. Any ideas? @astonmartin #LicenceToBuild

@astonmartin:
We may have a few ideas for what the special model could be… :) #LicenceToBuild

@007:
Licence to build is authorised #LicenceToBuild

From the conversation it's not clear if it will be a one-off model (most likely an Aston Martin DB5, perhaps a large LEGO Technic model with many working gadgets), or if this will be the beginning of a long lasting deal with many 007 branded models, characters and sets, similar to the Star Wars, Jurassic World, Superheroes and Harry Potter series.

Fans have been asking for official LEGO 007 models for years and of course have been very creative in creating their own Bond cars and characters from LEGO, sometimes including detailed instructions.

The possibilities for the LEGO 007 products are endless, and even an animated TV series or at least an appearance of a James Bond character in a LEGO movie or episode are potential ideas.

There might be tie-ins with Bond 25 which will be released at the end of 2019, but we would not be surprised if the first 007 LEGO model(s) will be available at Christmas 2018, if not earlier. Stay tuned at Bond Lifestyle for more news.

Aston Martin and EON Productions announced that 25 Aston Martin Goldfinger DB5 continuation cars will be produced.

Aston Martin DB5 and Sean Connery in Goldfinger

The 25 cars will be authentic reproductions of the DB5 seen on screen, with some sympathetic modifications to ensure the highest levels of build quality and reliability (a concept also used for the Aston Martin DB4 G.T. Continuation model series that was built in 2016).

A further three cars will be built – one each for EON and Aston Martin, plus another to be auctioned for charity.

Aston Martin DB5 in Thunderball

The Aston Martin Goldfinger DB5 continuation cars will include working gadgets such as revolving number plates and more, which were made famous in Goldfinger. The gadgets will be co-developed with Oscar-winner Chris Corbould, special effects supervisor from the James Bond films. Officially sanctioned by Aston Martin and EON Productions, all the Goldfinger edition cars will be produced to one specification – Silver Birch paint – just like the original.

All 25 cars will be built at Aston Martin Works at Newport Pagnell – the original home of the DB5.

The first customer deliveries scheduled for 2020, but the car is truly a collector's item: none of the cars will be road legal, so use of the car is limited to track days and museums.

The most instantly recognisable car of all-time, the DB5 made its first appearance in the third James Bond movie, Goldfinger, alongside Sean Connery as James Bond. Laden with gadgets and armaments installed by Q Branch, the secret agent’s Aston Martin became an instant hit with moviegoers.

Aston Martin DB5 in GoldenEye

Since its seminal appearance in Goldfinger the DB5 has featured in a further six James Bond movies: Thunderball (1965), again with Connery; GoldenEye (1995) and Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) with Pierce Brosnan and three appearances alongside Daniel Craig in Casino Royale (2006), SkyFall (2012) and SPECTRE (2015).

Aston Martin DB5 in Tomorrow Never Dies

Such was its popularity, the DB5’s movie debut even spawned a Corgi die-cast model, an astonishing 2.5m of which were sold in its first year of production (1965). No wonder an entire generation of children grew-up aspiring to own an Aston Martin.

Aston Martin DB5 in SkyFall

Andy Palmer, President and Chief Executive Officer, Aston Martin, said: “The connection between Aston Martin and James Bond is something of which we are very proud and it is remarkable that the DB5 remains the definitive James Bond car after so many years. To own an Aston Martin has long been an aspiration for James Bond fans, but to own a Silver Birch DB5, complete with gadgets and built to the highest standards in the very same factory as the original James Bond cars? Well, that is surely the ultimate collectors’ fantasy. The skilled craftspeople at Aston Martin Works and the expert special effects team from the James Bond films are about to make this fantasy real for 25 very lucky customers.”

Aston Martin DB5 and Sean Connery in Goldfinger

Paul Spires, Managing Director at Aston Martin Works, added of the Goldfinger DB5 continuation editions: “The connection between Aston Martin and James Bond originated more than half a century ago. Creating 25 Goldfinger DB5 continuations and working with EON Productions and special effects supervisor, Chris Corbould, is something truly unique and a real career highlight for everyone involved here at Aston Martin Works.”

Each Goldfinger DB5 continuation car will be priced at £2.75m plus taxes. First deliveries to customers will commence in 2020.

Seven Iconic Aston Martin James Bond cars will be in central London to celebrate ‘Global James Bond Day’ this Friday, October 5th 2018.

The Aston Martin DB5 from GoldenEye with its own parking space at the London Film Museum, Bond in Motion Exhibition, on 21 March 2014
photo © 007.com

Aston Martin Lagonda has teamed up with EON Productions and Sky to celebrate Global James Bond Day launching a prize draw for fans, giving them a chance to win a wide screen television and Sky Q package.

Aston Martin cars are driven by James Bond in eleven of the 007 films; Goldfinger (1964), Thunderball (1965), On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969), The Living Daylights (1971), GoldenEye (1995), Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), Die Another Day (2002), Casino Royale (2006), Quantum of Solace (2008), SkyFall (2012) and SPECTRE (2015).

Throughout Friday, four iconic Aston Martins from the 007 films, the DB10, V8 Vantage, DB5 and DBS will be driving through central London passing major landmarks and James Bond film locations. 

Aston Martin DB5 and DB10 on display during an event at Goodwood to promote the launch of the Forza Horizon 4 James Bond Car Pack, September 2018
photo © 007.com

Grab a selfie with the Die Another Day (2002) Vanquish, complete with bonnet mounted guns at Aston Martin Park Lane or hop over to Aston Martin Works’ heritage showroom on Dover Street where you will find the battle-scarred Quantum of Solace (2008) DBS.

Visit the ‘Bond in Motion’ exhibition at the London Film Museum and see the DBS from Casino Royale (2006) parked outside. Inside is the largest official collection of original James Bond vehicles.

Two Aston Martin DBS cars from Quantum of Solace on display during an event at Goodwood to promote the launch of Forza Horizon 4 James Bond Car Pack, September 2018
photo © 007.com

Aston Martin Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer, Simon Sproule said: “The connection between James Bond and Aston Martin reaches back through the decades so we are delighted to be supporting Global James Bond Day 2018. London is the home of 007 and fans should be on the lookout for some of the most exciting cars used by James Bond this Friday 5th October.”

Hints and tips will be posted throughout Friday on the @astonmartin and @007 social media channels, giving clues on the location of the cars, which will all bear decals to show they are Global James Bond Day cars. Photographs from the day should be posted on all social media channels, using the hashtags #JamesBondDay and #BondInMotion.

To be in with a chance of the a year-long Sky Q package and a 55” Ultra High Definition TV, please visit www.bondcompetition.co.uk.

Set out on a mission to discover the LEGO Creator Expert 10262 James Bond Aston Martin DB5 one of the world’s most famous vehicles.

The model was revealed in July 2019 in the LEGO Flagship store at Leicester Square by Ms. Moneypenny herself (actress Naomie Harris).

This gadget-laden set is available in select LEGO stores, and online at Amazon (USA, UK and Germany / EU), eBay and at Harrods.com.

Open the doors and you'll find an elaborate interior with a concealable radar tracker and a door compartment with telephone.

Other options include revolving number plates, raising the rear-window bulletproof screen, deploying the wheel-mounted tyre scythes and pulling back the gearstick to reveal the front wing machine guns. And of course a working passenger ejector seat!

A detailed straight-6 engine, drum-lacquered silver front and rear bumpers, front and rear Aston Martin logos and moulded silver-coloured wire wheel rim inserts add the finishing touches to this unique model, the first LEGO / James Bond partnership.

An Aston Martin DB5 James Bond 007 tribute model car in 1:1 scale is currently offered for sale on eBay.

The asking price is $165,000 (approx £130,000 or €145,000).

The Q Car, a full scale Aston Martin DB5 model, now on offer at eBay, see the original listing here

This hand made full-size model Aston Martin DB5 movie tribute car from the film Goldfinger is supporting many original parts and working gadgets. The car rolls and steers, and has a 110v plug and remote control to run the gadgets.

The model has been on display at several locations and events, including the 2016 Aston Martin Vancouver debut of the DB11, the 2016 Luxury Supercar weekend with Aston Martin, 2016 SEMA Show, Aston Martin Beverly Hills, Aston Martin Vancouver and  the Pacific Rim Fairmount Vancouver hotel.

The model, named The Q Car, was developed by car builder, motorcycle racer and customizer Olivier Spilborghs ("Q") in Vancouver, Canada. When he grew up, he saw one of the original 4 original Aston Martins used in Goldfinger in West Vancouver, where it was on display at Frank Baker’s restaurant The Attic for 13 years. This car switched hands a few times after that and is now owned by and displayed at the Louman Museum in The Netherlands.

A few years ago, inspired by his childhood memories of the car, he decided to create his own DB5 tribute car.

The Q Car took 5 years to build and search all the parts. The gadgets are handmade, and work either via switches or a custom remote control.

Working gadgets include:

- Retractable front machine guns with flashing stobes as “gun fire”

- Rear rotating plate that continues to show all 3 different plates

- Rear smoke screen

- Rear bullit screen

- GPS map with flashing light

- Tail light opens with oil slick nozzle

- Door panel pocket with phone

- Both rear spinners come out “tire slashers”

- Removable ejection roof section

- Centre console with gadget controls

- Timer controlled 007 hologram from door sides to floor

- Remote control runs all gadgets

The model is currently being re-painted and getting upgrades and will be available for delivery in March 2019.

Q is already working on a running DB5 car now, based on a real DB5, but with the added gadgets. We can't wait to see the result which will hopefully be done before the release of Bond 25.

Visit eBay for more information and photos of The Q Car DB5, or to make an offer. And follow the Q Car on Instagram at @theqcar for updates on the new DB5 project.

Aston Martin has revealed the Bond gadgets that will be standard equipment on the limited edition Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger DB5 Continuation cars.

Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger Continuation Car
photo by Max Earey

Last year Aston Martin announced that it would build a series of 25 Goldfinger DB5 Continuation vehicles that will be delivered in 2020, at a price of £2.75m (approx $3.5m / €3.2m). The cars won't be road legal in most countries.

Long time James Special Effects Supervisor Chris Corbould explains more about the gadgets for the cars on this video, where you can see some of the gadgets in action:

Chris Corbould OBE was special effects supervisor on eight previous James Bond films and the upcoming BOND 25, and he was working with the SFX department on a total of fourteen 007 adventures. He has been assisting in creating these special gadgets for the DB5 Continuation car.

On the outside, there will be a smoke screen emitter, an oil slick delivery system, revolving number plates, fake twin machine guns up front, a "bullet resistant" rear shield and battering rams on both bumpers.

Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger Continuation Car will have a working smoke machine
photo by Max Earey

Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger Continuation Car will have a working smoke machine
photo by Max Earey

Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger Continuation Car will feature a water spray behind the rear lights
photo by Max Earey

Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger Continuation Car will have a flashing fake machine gun behind the small front lights
photo by Max Earey

The interior will get a fake radar tracker, a phone in the driver's door, a red button on the gear knob, a weapons storage tray under the seat and switches on the armrest and center console.

It is not yet known what the red button on the gear knob will do. Sadly a working ejector seat is missing, but the red button will do something that will be revealed later.

The gadgets are still "subject to final engineering approval," but likely to make it to the final cars, especially since none of the cars will actually be road legal, so more a display prop than a useful spy machine.

In total, 28 of the James Bond DB5 Continuation cars will be produced, one of which will be kept by Aston Martin, one will be kept by EON Productions and and a third will be auctioned for charity.

The yearly Bonham's Aston Martin Sale will once again offer some stunning James Bond models, including a grey 1964 DB5, 2003 Vanquish and 1989 V8 Volante.

The Aston Martin Sale will take place at Wormsley Estate, High Wycombe on 19 May 2019, and features Aston Martin & Lagonda Motor Cars and related automobilia.

A beautifully restored Aston Martin DB5 in silver grey is offered with an estimated price of £620,000 - 680,000 (€720,000 - 790,000 / $810,000 - 890,000).

The DB5 was made famous by the appearance in several James Bond films. The car on offer has the same color as Bond's car and is in immaculate condition.

Another Bond style car is the 2003 Aston Martin Vanquish, the same type of car as driven by James Bond in Die Another Day (2002).

Estimated price for the Vanquish is £65,000 - 80,000 (€75,000 - 92,000), which seems low for one of the most beautiful Aston Martins ever made.

The 1989 Aston Martin V8 Volante offered at the Bonham's Aston Martin Sale is similar to the V8 Vantage Series III driven by James Bond in The Living Daylights (1987).

Estimated price of this beauty is £220,000 - 250,000 (€250,000 - 290,000).

The Aston Martin DBS Superleggera is the newest James Bond inspired car, thanks to the most recent collaboration between Aston Martin and EON Productions.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of James Bond film, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969), 50 On Her Majesty’s Secret Service DBS Superleggera special edition cars will be sold, all painted Olive Green to match the original 1969 Aston Martin DBS driven by James Bond in the movie.

It is 50 years since filming began for the sixth James Bond film, which told the story of Bond villain ‘Blofeld’ and his ongoing attempts to hold the world to ransom. The 1969 Aston Martin DBS provided James Bond with the perfect car for a man tasked with saving the world!

Andy Palmer, Aston Martin Lagonda President and Group Chief Executive Officer, said: “Aston Martin is synonymous with James Bond and the DBS from On Her Majesty’s Secret Service has provided great inspiration to the team tasked with creating this very special edition. This new DBS Superleggera will be an extremely distinguished ‘brute in a suit’, designed to capture the essence of the iconic DBS from the 1969 film but with a 5.2 litre twin-turbo V12, 715bhp engine.”

The special edition DBS Superleggera boasts carbon fibre, splitter, aero blade and unique diamond turned and forged wheels. A bespoke metal grille featuring six bright horizontal vanes, adorns the front of the limited-edition car to replicate the distinctive feature of the DBS featured in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. The exterior paint surface is enhanced with body coloured cantrails and roof.

Bearing commemorative side strakes and unique touches throughout, the car is every inch ‘007’.

On the inside, the DBS Superleggera is trimmed in pure black leather, accented by grey blend Alcantra, as in the original 1969 DBS. The cockpit is accented in red, inspired by the red trimmed glovebox in the original car, which held 007’s telescopic-sight rifle.

The 50 owners of this James Bond Special Edition will have the option to select a bespoke designed drinks case which fits perfectly into the boot space. In keeping with the theme, this accessory is the perfect complement to the exhibition worthy ‘Super GT’. The black drinks case opens via the bright metal clasp to reveal the matching red felt lined interior, with space for two bottles of champagne and four champagne flutes.

The 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 engine is set low and as far back in the chassis as possible to optimise the centre-of-gravity and weight distribution, this high-performance engine develops 725PS at 6500rpm and 900Nm from 1800-5000rpm.

Aston Martin Vice President & Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman said: “Creating a James Bond special edition is always an exciting challenge as we work to create a car that embodies the legend of James Bond, and the original movie car. The DBS Superleggera is a muscular car that commands attention, but the Olive Green gives it a subtlety that belies the beast beneath.”

The On Her Majesty’s Secret Service DBS Superleggera special edition is the latest in a series of 007 inspired Aston Martins, which includes the Goldfinger DB5 continuation and the 2015 DB9 GT Bond Edition.

Each of the 50 On Her Majesty’s Secret Service DBS Superleggera special editions will retail at £300,007.00 (approx $380,000 or €340,000), with first deliveries commencing in Q4 2019.

OHMSS DBS Superleggera Specification:

Exterior
Exterior Paint Colour: Olive Green
Exterior Body Pack: 2x2 Gloss Carbon Fibre
Front Grille: Bright Vane Grille
Side strake: Polished Aluminium Side Strake, housed in 2x2 Twill Carbon Fibre
Mirror Caps: Exterior Body Colour
Roof Panel: Exterior Body Colour
Roof Strake: Exterior Body Colour
Rear diffuser: 2x2 Gloss Carbon Fibre with Painted Centre Section
Wheels: 21” OHMSS Gloss Black DT
Tyre: Pirelli P Zero
Brake Calipers: Black
Exhaust Tail Pipe Finisher: Quad (Bright Finishers)
Exterior Badging: Heritage Enamel with Black infill front and rear
Car Cover: Bespoke Olive Green Car cover

Interior
Environment 1: Pure Black Leather
Environment 2: Pure Black Leather
Headlining and Cantrails: Grey Blend Alcantara with Fluted Headliner
Welt & Stitch Colour: Spicy Red Leather
Seat Embroidery: Spicy Red Aston Martin Wings Logo
Seat Detailing: Bespoke OHMSS Micro Perforation with Fluting
Steering Wheel: Q - Satin 2x2 Twill Carbon Fibre / Pure Black Leather
Gearshift Paddles: Satin 2x2 Twill Red Tinted Carbon Fibre
Trim Inlay: Dyed Tamo Open Pore
Seat Back Veneer: Match to Leather
Interior Jewellery: Dark Chrome with 2x2 Twill Satin Carbon Fibre
Interior Sill Plaque: Bespoke OHMSS Sill Plaque
Audio System: Bang & Olufsen BeoSound Audio with OHMSS Embroidery to
Subwoofer Cover
Stowage lining: Red Felt Lining
Additional Option Drinks Case (Not included in Design Specification, additional option to be charged to the customer)