Generously Lent by Fritz Burkard

On view in the exhibition July 13 – September 13, 2026

Photos Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

· One of two DB5 cars used in the James Bond Film “Thunderball”

· Equipped with 13 working special effects

· Only 3 owners since acquired new for filming

There are three words that separate Aston Martin from all other automobile manufacturers worldwide: “Bond, James Bond”. The car displayed is one of only two Aston Martin DB5 cars used in the filming of the 4th James Bond 1965 movie “Thunderball” and only one of four equipped with the wide variety of special effects accessories as designated in the film by “Q”, the quartermaster for Britian’s MI6 secret agents. The special features include a rotating front license plate, bumper overriders that double as battle rams, 30 caliber machine gun hidden behind turn indicators, smoke screen generator from the rear, retractable bulletproof rear screen, oil slick nozzle from taillight, tire shredding extending knockoff wheel hubs, interior radar with vehicle tracking, and a stick shift actuated passenger ejector seat that deploys a removable roof panel and sends an unwanted passenger through the open roof.

While the special features were conceived and devised by Oscar winning special effects master John Stears, the initial cars were special ordered by film production company Eon Productions for the Bond film “Goldfinger”. After the film’s wild success and the recognition offered to a small auto builder like Aston Martin, two additional cars were produced for the follow up film “Thunderball”.

To improve reliability of the theatrical devices, the accessory items were installed at Newport- Pagnell, Aston Martin’s home factory in the UK. This right-hand drive Snow Shadow Gray with Black Leather interior DB5 is one of those two cars and has benefitted from having only 3 owners and went through an extensive cosmetic and functional restoration in 2012 by Roos Manufacturing in Switzerland. Previous ownership includes Lord Bamford in the UK and B.H. Atchley of the Smokey Mountain Automobile Museum in Tennessee.

With the provenance of being one of the actual “Bond movie cars” and the immediate identification of this model of Aston Martin as such, this specific car has gained the reputation of being the “Most Famous Car in the World”. While some might argue or offer others for comparison, there is no doubt that the “Bond Car” Aston Martin DB5 offers immediate recognition.

This car is on loan from renowned Swiss collector and Museum friend Fritz Burkhart, who will show the car at this year’s Audrian Newport Concours d’Elegance on October 4th.

Specifications:

Engine: 4-liter dual overhead cam inline 6-cylinder; three SU carburetors, 5-speed ZF manual transmission, rear-wheel drive

Chassis and Body: Superleggera aluminum alloy body formed over lightweight tubular frame, leather interior with reclining seats and electric windows

Brakes: Disc calibers all around

Extra Accessories: Passenger ejector seat with removable roof panel, front mounted 30 caliber machine guns (shoots paper wads) behind signal lamps, extending bumper overriders that double as rams, smoke screen and oil slick dispenser, tire shredding knock off wheel hub, retractable bullet shield, dash mounted radar, door mounted radio phone, rotating changeable license plate

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