James Bond’s missile-toting DB5 in the film Goldfinger arguably made Aston’s gorgeous motor one of the most famous cars in the world. It shared many of its underpinnings with the original DB4 but packed a 4-litre engine under the bonnet that produced an impressive 282bhp. A top speed of 142mph was almost unheard of in the 1960s and it carried a price tag of £4,175 at launch. If only it was that cheap now.
Ian Callum's curvaceous design can still be seen in modern-day Astons but the DB7 was the car that revived the British company. With funding from Ford and engines manufactured by the TWR group, Aston Martin was able to produce a car that could reach 165mph, drop-jaws with its sleek exterior yet avoid bankrupting the owner with expensive running costs. A 1995 DB7 can be picked up for as little as £13,000 on the used market. Not bad for a certain future classic.
An enormous V12 engine crammed into the tiny frame of a V8 Vantage? Many engineers said it was simply impossible. Not ones to turn down a challenge, Aston set about combining their most powerful engine with their lightest sports car to create a raging 510bhp monster that's happy to tickle the 190mph. Real masochists can opt for a Roadster version (pictured) that will blow away cobwebs (and hair styles) like no other.
When Daniel Craig reinvented the role of Britain's most notorious secret agent in Casino Royale, he needed a car that reflected the macho, posterior-kicking attitude of the new Bond. Along came Aston Martin with the DBS- a machine that was so aggressively styled, it made Wladimir Klitschko look like a ballet dancer. Throw in the ferocious 5.9 litre V12 engine, the super-slick 6-speed manual and a proper rear-wheel drive setup, and it is no wonder even the stunt drivers on had trouble handling the mighty DBS.
The most illustrious car in Aston's current line-up will give any thoroughbred exotic a run for its money. Only 77 will ever be produced (hence the name) and the car is so exclusive, Aston big cheeses vowed to never allow journalists to set foot in one to ensure its air of mystique is never tainted. The 7.3 litre V12 and full carbon monocoque chassis are paint-stakingly hand assembled at Aston's Gaydon plant in Warwickshire and each model can be specified to the customer's exact demands. There's no wonder it costs a cool £1.2 million.