3D Printing

3D Printed, Not Milled: Celebrating Goldfinger with a Gold Plated Aston Martin

Can you believe that it’s been 50 years since an evil villain threatened to snuff out the flame of a debonair intelligence agent by covering him in gold? In 1964, a young Sean Connery starred as James Bond in Goldfinger. To celebrate and to raise money to prevent child abuse, EON Productions commissioned a one-off gold-plated third scale replica of 007’s Aston Martin DB5 to be auctioned off by Christie’s online with proceeds going to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).

Michael G Wilson with 3D printed gold plated aston martin from james bond goldfinger
Executive Producer of EON Productions, Michael G. Wilson.

The replica was produced by Propshop, which originally 3D scanned a full size DB5 to be used in for creating special FX in the recent Skyfall film.  The scan was now 3D printed and plated in 24 carat gold, detailed with the agent’s radio controlled machine guns, bullet proof shield, and revolving license plate. To further increase the value of the iconic automobile, the DB5 was signed by Production Designer Sir Ken Adam, famous for designing Q’s high-tech mods to the car in Goldfinger. Perhaps the most exciting thing about the replica is just how much of it actually functions. Watch in the video below as the Aston Martin’s wheels spin and the shield pops up to deflect bullets:

The replica is currently on auction until bidding closes tomorrow, September 17, to coincide with the 50th Anniversary of the World Premier of Goldfinger. Currently set at £42,000 ($67,947.60), the replica is expected to earn between £40,000-60,000 ($66,000-100,000).

Complementing the replica is a Goldfinger Seamaster Aqua Terra wristwatch from Omega, made in 18k yellow gold with hands coated in Super-LumiNova to be read in all conditions and a counterweight in the shape of the 007 logo.  Bond fans will recognize Omega’s Seamaster series, part of every Bond film since 1995.  The watch is estimated to earn between £8,000-12,000 ($13,000-20,000) .  Propshop lists that the other items being auctioned include “a first edition book Goldfinger by Ian Fleming (estimate: £1,000-2,000 / $1,600-3,300), an original British cinema poster for Goldfinger, designed by Robert Brownjohn with Margaret Nolan as the famous golden girl (estimate: £2,000-3,000 / $3,300-5,000) and a special golden edition of Taschen’s The James Bond Archives, one of 40 artists proofs signed by Daniel Craig (estimate: £2,000-3,000 / $3,300-5,000).”  

BRITISH QUAD CINEMA POSTER WITH A GOLDFINGER LP SIGNED BY DAME SHIRLEY BASSEY copy

Also coinciding with the 50th anniversary is a special release of a Blu-ray of the film from MGM and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment on September 22.  To see and bid on the items, visit Christies here.

Strange to think that members of government intelligence agencies were once championed as heroes, rather than reviled as those guys who look at your naughty webcam pics and overthrow governments. Boy how times have changed!