From the first minute the Silver Birch, DB5 Aston Martin appeared on the screen in Goldfinger, I was hooked. This car with its sleek lines and sporty look made me want one.

When during the course of the film, it unleashed a barrage of special features, I as a young boy was utterly enthralled.

Over the years, I have owned many cars, particularly Aston's, but none of them ever really captured my heart as much as that DB5.

As I have gotten older, I have learned to love other cars, I'm sure the DB5 would understand, I still love Aston Martins, that blend of style, sophistication and poise, but under it all a car that can scare the daylights out of you, yet still make you feel safe. (Without armour plate and machine guns).

What is it exactly that I like about the cars? Is it the shape?, every Aston shares the same DNA, the grill has been the same shape since David Brown bought the company. I think it is the history, knowing that you the modern driver are sharing a common history with all the previous Aston Martin owners, that the car they owned are still around today and that your car has a much in common with cars from 60 years ago, as new models produced last year.

It may also have to do with exclusivity, the numbers of each Aston Martin model are known, no production runs of 100s of thousands. The DB7 model sold more cars in its production run that Aston Martin made in its lifetime up till then.

Now, of course, the new models are coming out with price tags, more than the GDP of some small island nations, but even these high prices don't stop people from wanting a piece of motoring history, or maybe they just want to be stirred, but not shaken.

Aston Martin craftmanship, hasn't changed in a mass produced world, these cars are still hand made. The engine of each car is still hand built and is signed by the man who built it. You can contact Aston Martin and they will provide you with every detail of your cars manufacture, from the day the first components were assembled, through to the signature of the man who drove it onto the truck for delivery. Ask that from Ford, or GM and see how far you get.

Each Aston is built to last, (admittedly in the early days they would last about as long as it would take for the cheque to clear), but that doesn't matter even with dodgy electrics by Lucas (we didn't invent darkness, just sudden unexpected darkness) Electrical.

There is still something stylish about pushing your car to the side of the road and then waiting hours for the tow truck.

To paraphrase an old saying "I'd rather be pushing my Aston Martin, than driving in a BMW".

Learn more about this author, Robert Mcmartin.
Click here to send author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Classic cars: What's your favorite and why??
We want to hear your view. Write now!