The Little Car Company, Aston Martin and EON Productions have unveiled a “No Time To Die” special edition Aston Martin DB5 Junior. The two-thirds scale replicas are inspired by and named after the 25th James Bond film in which audiences will see the return of the iconic Aston Martin DB5 to the big screen.
“Extensive development and months of collaboration” between the three companies have resulted in a true gadget-laden collector’s item. The two-thirds scale version of the original James Bond DB5 – which has become a much-loved character in its own right – comes with a fully electric powertrain.
“Regarded as the most famous car in cinematic history, the gadget-laden Aston Martin DB5 awed audiences around the world over fifty years ago,” says Ben Hedley, CEO of The Little Car Company. “Now, that story continues. As part of an exclusive partnership with EON Productions and Aston Martin, we have had the opportunity to create something truly unique for James Bond fans and collectors. We can’t wait to see the adventures these cars take with their owners.”
The Little Car Company is a world leader in producing exceptional and authentic “junior” cars, in partnership with car manufacturers. The company hand-builds its cars in the UK, at its Bicester Motion HQ, as a homage to the most coveted classic vehicles in automotive history.
The James Bond special edition is based on The Little Car Company’s Aston Martin DB5 replica, which was itself produced after 3D-scanning the original for reference. This method allowed the company to accurately reproduce the body of DB5 at two-thirds its original size.
Many design elements of the DB5 have also been replicated faithfully, such as the Smiths instruments on the dashboard, Silver Birch paintwork, individually numbered chassis plates, and Aston Martin badging. However, some elements have been repurposed for the electric powertrain. For example, the fuel gauge has been converted into a battery meter, while the oil temperature now monitors the motor temperature.
The special edition boasts even greater power and range over the standard DB5 Vantage Junior, according to the company, giving it a higher level of performance. It also has multiple driving modes and a “range of up to 80 miles.”
The No Time To Die Special Edition has been designed as a convertible, and not the fixed head coupe driven by 007. This was done to allow an adult and child to sit side by side, to allow generations to share the love of driving. A quick-release steering wheel facilitates speedy entry and exit for the driver. When they need to stop in a hurry, they can rely on both the regenerative braking and high-performance Brembo disc brakes. Bilstein dampers and coilover springs ensure the suspension can handle the performance squeezed into this two-thirds scale car.
No true Bond car would be complete without Q style gadgets, and the Junior No Time To Die edition is no exception. Chris Corbould OBE, the Oscar-winning special effects supervisor – who has worked on fifteen James Bond films since the early 1980s – has consulted with The Little Car Company to develop the car’s complex gadgets in miniature.
All the gadgets are operated by individual controls in a hidden switch panel in the passenger door. At the push of a button, the headlights drop to reveal a twin set of simulated Gatling guns, complete with imitation barrel blasts and flashes. The skid mode comes in handy when caught in a tight spot.
The car has a unique digital number plate activated through the hidden control panel. It can also produce a smokescreen to aid a successful getaway. Ejected through the rear ‘exhaust’, the smoke has a supply tank with an hour’s worth of safe smoke juice. There are also some secret ‘Easter Eggs’, we are informed, hidden within the car for the lucky owners to find.
The DB5 Junior is obviously not road legal. However, as an authentic Aston Martin model, every owner will receive automatic membership of the respected Aston Martin Owners Club. In addition, all clients will receive complimentary membership of The Little Car Club, allowing them to participate in exclusive events where they and their family members can drive their DB5 Juniors on the most prestigious racetracks.
Existing Aston Martin DB5 Junior clients have the first refusal on upgrading to a No Time To Die edition, while the remaining build slots are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Bookings for the remaining cars, from the total 125 cars being built, can be secured by visiting 007junior.com and placing a fully refundable deposit.
