Aston Martin DB5 makes `top 100 cars that changed motoring` list

13-Aug-2006 • Bond News

Everyone has a favourite car. It could be their first car, or the car they took on their first date, or the car they always wanted to own but could never afford. Looking around today's new-car showrooms, there is plenty of dream machinery, from the Ferrari Enzo to the Porsche 911 Turbo and even the all-new VE Commodore which is just about to hit the road - reports News.com

We are genuinely living in a golden age, despite the price of petrol as modern technology has made all cars safe and reliable and relatively economical, forcing companies to put the focus on performance and style and comfort and luxury.

The cars of 2006 stand up to any comparison. But they are not the all-time stars. How can a Ford Falcon compare with a 1960s Mustang, or a BMW-built Mini Cooper threaten the swinging '60s original from BMC?

Modern four-wheel drives are perfect for shopping and school runs, but it was the original Land Rover and the Willya Jeep which put off-roading on the map. Growing up, I dreamed about a Holden Torana XU1 or a Ford Falcon GTHO. But I love the idea of a Volkswagen Beetle, because that was the car I owned first and took to my heart, or perhaps a stove-hot Datsun 1600, because I used one to win rallies and hoon around in my 20s.

But which is the best car of all? It depends how you rank them, and their place in history. Personally, a Mercedes-Benz E55 station wagon would do every job I need for the rest of my motoring lifetime. But it's not a classic, and cannot be compared with an original Porsche 911 or the first Audi Quattro or even the Toyota Prius that introduced the world to petrol-electric hybrid motoring.

And what about the Aussies? The XU1 and GTHO are the top choice with muscle-car fans, but are they more significant than the world's first Ford ute, or the original Holden, or even today's Territory or VE?

James Bond's infamous DB5 came in at number forty in the list.

No.40 - Aston Martin DB5
"James Bond drove one. And, when Bond was played by Sean Connery, that was enough without the machine guns and ejector seat."

Click here to read the full 100 list.