A Bond Icon: Elliott Broidy’s Ultimate Aston Martin DB5
Few cars possess the enduring mystique of the Aston Martin DB5. Immortalized on the silver screen, celebrated for its unmistakably British elegance, and coveted by collectors around the world, the DB5 occupies a rare place where automotive design, craftsmanship, and popular culture meet.
Now, one meticulously restored 1964 example is beginning a new chapter in South Florida.
Boca Raton-based philanthropist and entrepreneur Elliott Broidy, Chairman and CEO of Broidy Capital Holdings and a dedicated motorcar enthusiast, commissioned the ambitious restoration — which took years — with a distinctive goal: to create a DB5 that preserved the character and beauty of the original while making it comfortable and practical enough to actually drive.
The result is a bespoke version of one of the most recognizable automobiles ever built.
From Goldfinger to South Florida
The DB5’s legend was cemented in 1964, when it was driven by Sean Connery’s James Bond in Goldfinger, equipped with an array of ingenious “Q-Branch” gadgets. The model would ultimately appear in eight Bond films, becoming arguably the most famous cinematic automobile in history.
Aston Martin produced just 900 DB5 saloons between 1963 and 1965. Broidy’s car, Chassis Number 1750/R, was delivered new in 1964 in British Racing Green with a maroon Connolly Leather interior. Carefully sourced in the United Kingdom by Broidy’s representative Gil Holt, the exceptionally well-preserved car provided the foundation for an extensive restoration.
British Craftsmanship, Reimagined
The transformation brought together a collection of respected British specialists.
The DB5 received a comprehensive bare metal respray in Silver Birch from Hayward Classics, giving it the finish most closely associated with Bond’s famous machine. Inside, Matthew Hill Coach Trimming completely restored the cabin in grey Connolly Leather sourced directly from the Connolly brothers.
Broidy wanted to honor the car’s cinematic history, which is what drew him to the vehicle in the first place. As such, it is equipped with a bespoke retractable gun compartment under the passenger side dashboard that is triggered by an ejector seat button gear stick (in the films, the latter launches unsuspecting passengers out of the vehicle).
More functional changes were made as well.
Aston Engineering replaced the original 4.0-liter in-line six-cylinder engine, generating about 290 bhp, with a larger 4.7-liter Vantage specification unit with custom fuel-injected carburetors, producing more than 352 bhp at the wheels and 340 lb-ft of torque. The car also has a DB4 GT exhaust system. All in all, these upgrades mean that the DB5 can go more than 150 mph under suitable conditions.
Built to Be Driven
For Broidy, preserving the DB5’s heritage did not mean preserving every inconvenience of 1960s motoring.
A bespoke air-conditioning system makes the car considerably more suited to South Florida, while a left-hand-drive conversion, power steering, upgraded brakes and suspension, and Borrani wheels help transform the classic into something that can be enjoyed regularly rather than reserved exclusively for concours lawns and private collections.
That balance between preservation and usability was central to Broidy’s vision for the project. The DB5 still looks and feels like the icon that captivated moviegoers more than six decades ago, but it has been carefully adapted for the way its owner intends to experience it today.
“I can’t think of another car more immortalized by its onscreen presence than the Aston Martin DB5,” Elliott Broidy said. “With some subtle modern improvements and a selection of tributes to the iconic James Bond DB5, this is a very special classic car that I can use every day. It evokes emotion and nostalgia and can now handle its new home in South Florida. To own this car is a boyhood dream come true.”
That new home feels particularly fitting. South Florida is a region where exceptional automobiles are meant to be seen and appreciated.
Broidy’s DB5 brings something different to that landscape: the understated glamour of 1960s British motoring, infused with just enough modern engineering to make the fantasy usable.
More than 60 years after the DB5 first became a cinematic icon, Elliott Broidy’s newly restored example demonstrates why its appeal has endured. Beautifully preserved, thoughtfully modernized, and unmistakably Bond, it is a piece of automotive history ready for its next act in South Florida.