Here is my James Bond 'Goldfinger' Aston Martin DB5 from the Hotwheels Elite Cult Classics collection. The Aston Martin DB5 is widely regarded as the most famous car in the world as it is the vehicle of choice of fictional British Secret Service Agent James Bond, 007. The Aston Martin DB5 has appeared in 7 James Bond films to date and has appeared in several James Bond Video Games. It has appeared as 007's field car and as his personal vehicle.
In the film entrepreneur and gold magnate Auric Goldfinger is suspected of smuggling gold from his holdings in the UK to countries where the value of gold is higher. After an assignment agent 007 recuperates in Miami, while there he runs into the mysterious Auric Goldfinger whilst he is on vacation. Following Goldfinger back to the UK, 007 meets with MI6 and is officially given the assignment to investigate Mr. Goldfinger and his business dealings. Bond meets with the Quartermaster and is given some new equipment. Bond asks for his Bentley but is informed it has been replaced with a brand-new Aston Martin DB5. Bond later runs into Goldfinger at a golf club where he attempts to cheat at a game of golf, Bond counters his cheat with another cheat and after loosing on a technicality Goldfinger leaves for Geneva. Bond follows Goldfinger to Switzerland where Goldfinger leads him to one of his gold refineries. Under the cover of darkness Bond investigates the facility and discovers that Goldfinger has been using the body work of his Rolls Royce Phantom III to smuggle gold out of the UK. After leaving the facility Bond spots a sniper attempting to assassinate Goldfinger, Bond attempts to determine who the sniper is, but accidentally trips the facility’s alarm. Both Bond and the sniper flee in his Aston Martin and are pursued by Goldfinger’s henchman. Bond uses most of the DB5’s gadgets to throw off his pursuers but is caught in a dead end. Bond and co attempt to flee on foot but Bond’s accomplice is assassinated by Goldfinger’s right hand man, Oddjob. Bond reluctantly surrenders and returns to Goldfinger’s refinery with a henchman as a passenger. As they approach the facility Bond feels the knob of the gear shift remembering a secret button underneath it. As the DB5 pulls into the facility Bond speeds off and pushes the button ejecting his unwelcomed passenger. Bond attempts to flee again starting another daring car chase. The chase ends as a mirror obstructs and confuses Bond’s view causing him to crash the DB5 into a wall.
This 1/18 scale model is exquisitely detailed, you can even read ‘David Brown Aston Martin’ on the hood ornament with a magnifying glass. The model includes many of the gadgets from the film; retractable machine guns hidden behind the headlights, revolving number plates, a retractable rear bullet shield, retractable front and rear battering rams, retractable tire slashers, and a working ejector seat with a removable roof panel. However, it is missing 4 gadgets; the oil slick, the caltrop dispenser, the smoke screen, and the radio phone. I didn’t expect to see the radiophone or the caltrop dispenser as they weren’t seen in the film, but I did expect to see the oil slick and smoke screen dispensers. I should note that there is molding in the driver’s side door for the radiophone but it doesn't open.
