The Aston Martin DB5 came back after thirty years. In GoldenEye, Pierce Brosnan’s Bond takes the silver DB5 for a hard drive in the hills above Monte Carlo, and it is as much a statement about the series as about the car. The DB5 is a 1960s grand tourer with a four-litre straight six, and it is still a car worth owning if you can find the right one.
In the film
In GoldenEye (1995), the DB5 is Bond’s car for the race against Xenia Onatopp’s Ferrari F355 GTS in the mountains near Monte Carlo, and it is fitted with an Alpine 7817R communication and printer system. The official Bond site notes that after a thirty-year gap the DB5 returns, and describes a leisurely drive with Caroline, the MI6 psychologist. Fan sources point out that this DB5 is not the car from the earlier films: it carries the plate BMT 214A, not the 216A of the car seen elsewhere.
The details
The engine. The DB5 has a 3,995cc double overhead cam straight six making 282bhp at 5,500rpm. Aston Martin raised the capacity to four litres by enlarging the bore to 96mm, the biggest change from the DB4.
The running gear. A full synchromesh ZF five-speed gearbox was new, with a three-speed Borg-Warner automatic as an option. The brakes are Girling discs with twin servos, and the wheels are 15-inch.
Other body styles. A DB5 Vantage with three Weber carburettors was offered, along with a convertible and a few shooting brakes by Harold Radford.
Owning it now
Aston Martin built 1,059 DB5s between 1963 and 1965, plus 25 continuation cars in 2020. They are collector cars, with prices to match: recorded sales on Classic.com run from US$326,600 up to US$2,425,000 for a 1964 car in August 2022. Condition, history and originality set the price, so we would buy from a specialist with the chassis history documented and have the car inspected independently.
Nothing in our research shows the GoldenEye car for sale. The practical route is a used DB5; the eBay Motors search below is where listings turn up, alongside specialist dealers and classic car sites.
Specifications
| Production | 1963 to 1965, 1,059 cars; 25 continuation cars in 2020 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 3,995cc DOHC straight six, 282bhp at 5,500rpm |
| Gearbox | ZF five-speed manual; Borg-Warner three-speed automatic optional |
| Brakes | Girling discs, twin servos |
| Length | 4,570mm (saloon) |
| Recorded sales (Classic.com) | US$326,600 to US$2,425,000 (at the time of writing, October 2026) |
Aston Martin’s own history of the model is on its heritage page.
Questions
Which Aston Martin does Bond drive in GoldenEye?
The DB5, which he races against Xenia Onatopp’s Ferrari F355 GTS near Monte Carlo.
Is it the same DB5 as in Goldfinger?
Fan sources say not. The GoldenEye car carries a different plate from the one seen in the earlier films.
How much power does a DB5 have?
The standard car has a 3,995cc straight six making 282bhp. The Vantage version made 325bhp.
For more from the film, see GoldenEye and Pierce Brosnan’s Bond, or browse other vehicles from the films.
