The James Bond movie franchise officially started in 1962 with “Dr. No.” By 1964, it had already reached a couple of major milestones. That’s the year “Goldfinger,” a perennial entry in lists of the best James Bond movies of all time, was released. Not only did it have a distinctive henchman (Oddjob), a wealthy villain with an iconic name (Auric Goldfinger), and an over-the-top plot (irradiate the gold in Fort Knox to exponentially increase the value of Goldfinger’s inventory), but it also had the first true “Bond car.” Yes, 007 had driven different cars in the previous two installments, but none of them had the looks or – most importantly – the gadgets the Aston Martin DB5 had (unless you count the car phone in Bond’s Bentley shown in “From Russia with Love.”) This year marks the 60th anniversary of “Goldfinger.” To commemorate the occasion, Aston Martin has opened a 007-style pop-up experience in London.
On any given day, you can buy watches, jewelry, leather goods, shoes, cashmere, and more from the 47 brands in London’s Burlington Arcade. If you happen to go there between July 18 and August 4, look for Aston Martin’s House of Q (normally known as House 12-13). Unlike the secret agent we know and love, it should be easy to find.
Inside, you’ll see what appears to be a magazine stand. Don’t be fooled; it’s actually a cover for a secret door that leads to a speakeasy bar that serves Champagne Bollinger.
As you enjoy a glass and the music played through the Bowers & Wilkins audio system, you’ll be surrounded by technical drawings and parts from the original DB5, which was introduced in September 1963 with styling by Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera and a 4.0-liter I6. In addition, “sketches, diagrams and schematics from the archives of both Aston Martin and EON Productions” as well as the original “Goldfinger” script, film posters, and set photography will be on display. If you happen to find a certain flight case there, you’ll get hints about a future Aston Martin model.
For those of you with gold ingots of your own, a Configurator Lab and design experts will be onsite to help you design your next Aston Martin. Just don’t get your hopes up for machine guns behind the headlights, pop-out tire shredders, or an ejector seat.
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