If you're of a certain age and, let's face it, male, then you probably spent an inordinate amount of time on your bedroom carpet, playing with a Corgi replica Aston Martin. The one from Goldfinger, complete with pop-out machine guns, bullet-proof shield and a wee henchman who could be fired across the room (and instantly lost, of course) with the passenger ejector seat. ('Ejector seat? You're joking etc etc...)
All-out publicity attack
How many of us idly thought "gosh, I'd love a life-size version of this..." Well, now you can. Sort of. You see, with the imminent arrival of the new James Bond film, No Time To Die, in cinemas (30 days and counting, following its year-and-a-half Covid delay), Aston Martin is going all-out to publicise its involvement in Daniel Craig's last outing with the tux and the Walther.
Down at Battersea Power Station in London, Aston Martin unveiled a scaled-up replica of those classic Corgi cardboard boxes that held the toy Astons of our dreams. The life-size model box, which measures 5.66 metres long, 2.7 metres tall and 2.7 metres deep, will, of course, contain an actual, real Aston Martin DB5 - one of the recent Goldfinger Continuation cars, which are perfectly-made recreations of that original silver-screen star, built by Aston Martin itself.
Complete with gadgets
The DB5 is complete with a broad selection of working gadgets that fans will recognise from the classic James Bond film: rotating number plates, a retractable bullet proof rear shield, extending front over-riders and of course pop out machine guns. Just 25 of these ultimate toy cars are being built.
The original Corgi toy Aston Martin quickly became one of the most popular playthings of its day (well, it did cost a mere 50p...) and it's actually still being made now, such is its enduring popularity.
The grand unveil of the life-size toy box was carried out by Marek Reichman, EVP & Chief Creative Officer, Aston Martin Lagonda. Reichman was joined by Chris Corbould OBE, Special Effects Co-Ordinator, who is not only responsible for some of the most iconic James Bond action scenes from the past 14 films, but was also heavily involved in the engineering of the eight DB5 stunt replicas produced for the film and the working gadgets on the DB5 Goldfinger Continuation cars.
Reichman said "We are really honoured to be marking the start of the No Time To Die campaign today with this exciting unveil. Aston Martin's relationship with James Bond spans decades and the DB5 is, without question, the most famous car in the world by virtue of its 50-plus year association. Working with EON Productions and Chris Corbould to build 25 of the DB5 Goldfinger Continuations was a truly unique project for everyone involved at Aston Martin. Now, to work with Corgi - another quintessential British brand - and to see James Bond's most cherished car sitting inside a to-scale toy box in central London is quite outstanding."
Incredible display
Chris Corbould said, "Having worked closely with Aston Martin over the years to bring to life some of the most ambitious Bond scenes, and most recently on No Time To Die I can genuinely say it is a privilege to be here today to help unveil this incredible display for such an iconic car that truly holds a special place in Bond history."
Aston Martin will, of course, have a major part in No Time To Die. Well, parts (plural) actually - not only does the classic DB5 make an appearance, but we'll also get to see the gorgeous V8 coupe as originally seen in 1987's The Living Daylights, plus the current DBS coupe and the all-new mid-engined Valhalla in prototype form.
Oh, and some bloke called Jim who apparently is very fussy about his martinis.