This month, one of the most famous cars in the world turns 60 - congratulations to the Aston Martin DB5.
In September, it will be exactly 60 years since Aston Martin presented its then newcomer. The model became an icon of British culture, design and innovation. The DB5 firmly established Aston Martin as one of the most desirable British luxury brands.
Six decades later, the DB5 remains one of the most iconic and recognizable cars in the world. Last weekend, it took center stage at Aston Martin's appearance at the Goodwood Revival Festival in Sussex, alongside the newest member of the venerable DB family, the world's first supertourer, the DB12.
Icon of the 1960s
The year was 1963, Aston Martin was riding a wave of popularity and the DB4 had been selling consistently well since its introduction in 1958 as a completely new car for the brand. But with strong competition from luxury sports car manufacturers at home and abroad, something new was needed to keep the brand at the top.
The coupé (saloon) and later the convertible with the distinctive name were only produced for just over two years at the brand's factory and headquarters in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, but in that time they gained a reputation and notoriety that makes them some of the most desirable cars of all time today.The decision by the filmmakers at EON Productions to put the world's most famous secret agent behind the wheel of the new DB5 for more than half a century in a series of James Bond films has undoubtedly cemented its place in the automotive hall of fame. But 007 is far from the only 'celebrity' to have got behind the wheel of this now iconic Aston Martin.
More than just 007's company car
The Swinging Sixties were on the verge of their breakthrough when crowds thronged Frankfurt to catch a glimpse of the new DB5, and within a few years many of the most famous actors, pop stars and celebrities of the time were lucky enough to be among the exclusive owners of an Aston Martin.
Famous DB5 owners of the 1960s include Sir Paul McCartney and George Harrison of the Beatles and Rolling Stone Mick Jagger. Star comedian Peter Sellers also purchased the model, and in the years that followed, numerous celebrities - from Robert Plant and Jay Kay to Elle McPherson and Ralph Lauren - ensured that both the saloon and convertible versions of the car rarely faded from the limelight.
Indeed, the popularity of the DB5 proved to be a springboard for success, helping Aston Martin to evolve from a niche British sports car manufacturer into a global automotive superstar.
This is perhaps even more remarkable when you consider the number of vehicles produced. Originally, only 887 DB5 saloons, 123 convertibles and 12 bespoke Shooting Brakes were built. Even by the standards of the time, these numbers were minuscule, especially when you consider that over 1.8 million cars were produced in the UK in 1963.
Performance and fame
The DB5 on display in Germany featured a new, heavily revised version of the 3.7-liter inline six-cylinder engine with two camshafts that had already powered the DB4 with a displacement of 4.0 liters (3,995 cm³). In the series version, the new engine produced an impressive 282 hp.
This welcome increase in performance was part of a whole series of technical detail and equipment changes, such as the introduction of electric windows and optional air conditioning.
The performance, which was already the hallmark of Aston Martin 60 years ago, matched the sleek design of the car, which was based on a construction principle from the Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera, and the top speed of over 240 km/h prompted the Aston Martin brochure of the time to state: "The DB5 is the fastest production 4-seater GT car in the world."
These figures, which are still impressive today, prompted the British car magazine The Autocar to conclude after the first test of the new model: "This is a car that wants to be driven, wants to be driven well, wants to be driven far."
This greatest of all Grand Tourers laid the foundation for all subsequent vehicles. Today's DB12 - the world's first Super Tourer - once again underlines Aston Martin's leading position in terms of performance, dynamics, engineering and technology.
