The Aston Martin DB5 at 60 – Celebrating six decades of the world’s most iconic car.
14-11-2023 20:24 - EVENTS
The world's most iconic car, the Aston Martin DB5, has turned 60 with Aston Martin leading the celebrations. September marks exactly 60 years since Aston Martin unveiled its then newcomer, with the model going on to become an icon of British culture, design and innovation and firmly establishing Aston Martin as one of Britain's most desirable luxury brands. Six decades on, the DB5 continues to be one of the world's most iconic and recognisable cars, and took centre stage of Aston Martin's presence at the Goodwood Revival festival in Sussex last weekend alongside the latest addition to the marque's revered DB bloodline, the world's first Super Tourer, DB12. Marking Aston Martin's proud past and exciting future, the two models have been photographed together in images released today to celebrate the landmark anniversary.
Reflecting on the enduring appeal of the DB5 as it marks its 60th anniversary, Aston Martin's Executive Chairman, Lawrence Stroll – himself a DB5 owner – said: “The David Brown era gave us so many great Aston Martin sports cars but none more recognisable, revered, and desired as the DB5, which laid the foundations of our identity as a British luxury brand synonymous with style, performance, and exclusivity.
The year was 1963. Aston Martin was riding a wave of popularity and its DB4 had been selling consistently well since it was unveiled as an entirely new car for the marque in 1958. Yet with strong competition from luxury sports car makers both at home and on the continent, something new was needed to keep the brand on top. Making its official public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1963 the newcomer featured several design, technical and equipment changes over its predecessor – most notably a major engine development delivering even more power – that justified the use of a name entirely new to the car world of the day, but now synonymous with the ultimate in style and desirability: DB5.
The DB5 displayed in Germany featured a new 4.0-litre (3,995cc) much reworked version of the 3.7-litre, twin cam, straight six that powered the DB4, with the new engine developing what was, then, a distinctly potent 282 bhp in standard form. That welcome extra power was part of a raft of detailed technical and equipment changes, such as the debut of electric windows and the optional availability of air conditioning, which had been painstakingly engineered to meet increasingly sophisticated and demanding customer expectations.