3 Aston Martin DB5 1964-1965

ENGINE: 3,995CC, 6 CYL TOP SPEED: 143MPH 0-60MPH: 7.1SEC

“Where’s my Bentley?” asks Commander Bond in

Goldfinger (1964). “Oh it’s had its day, 007, M’s orders I’m afraid,” replies Q. “We’re using this Aston Martin DB5 with modifications…” And so began one of the great screen double acts; Bond and the DB5, though film spotters might note that Sean Connery’s car had no sun visors.

But a DB5 is much more than an ejector seat on wheels. By the time of the launch Aston had ironed out the cooling problems of Tadek Marek’s straight-six engine and bought in a ZF light-truck gearbox to handle the torque.

Essentially the fairedheadlamp bodywork is the same as that on the Series V DB4 but with a brace of fuel fillers; it’s also utterly beautiful. To drive, the car is frontheavy and powerful, but rewarding and relaxing – just as a proper gran turismo should be. The engine is one of the finest twin-cam straight sixes, with an aristocratic wail at the top end. Probably the pre-eminent GT of its day, with a lovely cabin completely covered in chrome and leather and no wood – hurrah!

Rightly considered alongside the premier cru Ferraris and Maseratis and these days highly collectable. Aston Martin made 1,021 DB5s and the Corgi Bond model is the bestselling toy car ever.

Why you want one: an icon; beautiful, powerful and an occasion to drive.

Why you don’t: horribly expensive to buy and own. You might not know:

Superleggera, the patented process of making the DB5 bodies, was invented by Carrozzeria Touring in 1936 using thin-gauge tubes with aluminium sheets laid over them. It was used in the aeronautical industry and by car makers including Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Maserati and BMW.