SkyFall’s DB5 now on display at the Heritage Motor Centre
The Aston Martin DB5 which appeared in James Bond’s SKYFALL is now on display at the Heritage Motor Centre until spring 2014. The model on display was the actual car that was used for most of the driving sequences in the film which stars Daniel Craig as 007. The car is privately owned but on loan to Eon who produces the Bond films. The HMC also has the Land Rover Defender 110 double cab pick-up, driven in the opening sequence of SKYFALL, amongst its collections. Although on display at the HMC, the car will be show-cased at the Classic Motor Show on the 15, 16 and 17 November at the NEC.
Ever since its first appearance in Goldfinger in 1964 with Sean Connery, the DB5 has become the archetypal 007 car and one of the most iconic British cars in the world. A DB5 has appeared in four out of the five most recent 007 films. Prior to filming SKYFALL the car was prepared in just seven weeks by Aston Martin Works, transforming a green car into the familiar silver of the MI6 agent’s favourite automobile. The car was not fitted with any of Q’s trademark gadgets; however visitors can see a black line on the roof as the outline of the panel for the ejector seat. In the film, the DB5 met a fiery end outside Bond’s Scottish childhood home but fortunately this was only by use of a model and camera trickery.
A natural development of the DB4, the DB5’s four seater coachwork was built by the Italian design house, Carrozzeria Touring of Milan. The car used ‘Superleggera’ aluminium body construction, in which alloy panels are fixed to a tubular frame built onto a platform chassis. The car has a 4 litre engine and a top speed of 142 mph. The price from new was £3,650.
Stephen Laing, Curator for the Heritage Motor Centre stated “We are delighted to have the Aston Martin DB5 and Land Rover Defender amongst our prized collection. We have been privileged to have displayed many iconic and famous film & TV vehicles over the years including Batman & Robin’s Batcycle, Lara Croft’s Land Rover Defender from ‘Tomb Raider’, James Bond’s Aston Martin DBS from ‘Quantum of Solace’ and Dr Who's 'Bessie' a Siva Ford tourer built for the 3rd Doctor Who”.
Museum entry fees apply: Adults £12, Child £8 (5-16 years) under 5 free, Concessions £10 & Family £34 (2 adults & up to 3 children). Buy one day and get 12 months free if you Gift Aid your entrance. For more information about the HMC, visit heritage-motor-centre.co.uk.
