I’ve driven an Aston Martin DB5 with a 97% discount – can you spot the catch?

JAMES Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 has been voted the most iconic Bond car ever, but few of us could ever dream of experiencing one.

That’s because a good DB5 now costs £1million to buy and only 1059 of them were ever made.

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But there is another way – the only catch is this one is built to 66% scale of the original and still costs from £35,000.

The firm behind the ‘Aston Martin DB5 Junior’ is The Little Car Company which is also making just 1059 of these baby bond cars.

But these are not toys. They are officially signed off by Aston Martin and built in Bicester using the same materials found in Aston’s cars of today.

Three models are available, all powered by a single electric motor at the back, with three levels of power and range, with between 6-20bhp.

And when we say this isn’t a toy, we mean it: the are different driving modes and speeds of more than 45mph are possible, which feels extremely fast when you’re sat just inches from the ground.

The extent of what The Little Car Co. is capable of will culminate in a range-topping DB5 Junior No Time to Die Edition arriving later this year.

It will be the fastest of the lot and feature (fake) mini guns that pop out from the headlights, cycling digital number plates, a real smoke screen, a skid mode and hidden gadgets switch panel just like Bond’s.

If you’re sitting there wondering who buys something like this, the answer is more people than you might think.

The DB5s are selling like hot cakes and previous Bugatti and Ferrari-themed projects from The Little Car Co. have already sold out.

Owners of the original versions of these cars, general car collectors and wealthy people who want to treat their kids are recognising the quality of what’s being made here.

When you (literally) climb behind the wheel, it starts to make sense.

All DB5 Juniors are open-tops for obvious reasons and the level of quality and detail inside is astonishing.

The dials, the leather and the switches are all just like a real DB5’s. Handily there was also one of these on hand to check.

The leather trim, exterior paint colours and even the badges match those offered by Aston Martin and are officially given the green light by the famous firm.

Underneath, this dinky DB5 has the same sort of suspension set-up as the original, four disc-brakes and a set of tyres from a classic Mini.

In short, despite not being road legal, it isn’t messing around. Which you notice as soon as you accelerate away.

It feels very fast in a straight line and the wind roar only amplifies the experience.

And when it’s time to tackle a corner the Junior’s quick steering, grippy front tyres and tiny dimensions mean it feels extremely agile too.

You can even slide it if you try hard enough.

Ultimately there’s no point trying to rationalise a purchase like the Aston Martin DB5 Junior.

If you have the money, love cars and it has turned your head, we guarantee you will not be disappointed.

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