Why the Aston Martin DB5 is Joanna Lumley’s Ab Fab choice - News

Only an esteemed few of the classic British cars we offer for driving experiences here on TrackDays are as timeless, or universally well loved an icon as the Aston Martin DB5, made popular when driven by Sean Connery in Goldfinger, the 1964 installment of the James Bond films.

So who better to take the wheel of one than another British icon from the swinging 60s, who was first a model, then a Bond girl herself in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, before taking on the roles of high kicking action heroine Purdey in The New Avengers and the chain smoking, alcoholic fashionista Patsy Stone in the hit BBC sitcom Absolutely Fabulous?

In fact, it’s her Bond girl days that stand all round national treasure Joanna Lumley in very good stead for her new travel documentary series, that begins airing on ITV tonight. In this exclusive clip from the first episode, she gets to take to the wheel of a custom prepared DB5 at no less a venue than Silverstone Circuit, on Aston Martin’s own test track.

As you can see from the below video, Joanna could hardly contain her excitement at getting to drive this unique variant of the DB5, which has been fitted with all the mod cons and gadgetry that only Her Majesty’s most trusted secret agent would require: revolving number plate, rising bulletproof screen at the rear, and mocked-up missile ‘deployment’ from under the front headlights.

[sorry video has since been remove]

© ITV Studios plc

Once out on the test track herself, she said it was ‘extraordinary … old fashioned dials, clear as a whistle. No secrets. Well, apart from the secret weapons. My life is complete!’ And according to our recent booking data, it seems it’s not just Ms. Lumley who holds the DB5 in high affection.

Interestingly, however, it’s our Triple Aston Martin Blast with High Speed Passenger Ride package, on which you can drive the DB5 (sadly minus the gadgets), together with the 1975 Aston Martin Vantage and Aston Martin V8 Vantage for 3 miles each, that’s been booked almost twice as much in the last month by our customers as the Aston Martin DB5 Blast where you can drive it for 3 miles on its own.

Both are great value packages that offer the chance to drive classic British supercars that are shorthand for style, panache and luxury - no doubt helped by a certain 007. But we dare say that after the first episode goes out tonight, Joanna’s turn in the DB5 will make these unique driving experience days even more popular!

Joanna Lumley’s Home Sweet Home: Travels In My Own Land begins tonight at 8:00pm on ITV. To get on one of our fantastic Aston Martin driving days in the DB5 and many other esteemed marques for yourself or a loved one, head over to TrackDays’ dedicated Aston Martin experiences page today and book from forthcoming dates or purchase of our open gift vouchers.