Phut phut, bang bang - Thunderball`s Aston Martin DB5 blows it`s engine

The Edinburgh Evening News have reported that the Aston Martin DB5 driven by Sean Connery in Goldfinger and Thunderball has proved that while diamonds are forever, car engines are definitely not.

The cult vehicle - fitted with machine guns and oil jets - was expected to take to the Capital`s streets yesterday after a couple won the chance to drive it in a charity raffle.

But when staff at the Cars of the Stars Museum, at Ingliston, tried to move the classic vehicle, the engine simply wouldn`t start.



Frantic staff were left both shaken and stirred as investigations under the bonnet of the 41-year-old car failed to reveal the cause of the problem and they were forced to cancel the trip. But museum manager Ian Marron is certain the engine will be fixed and the winning couple will be able to take up their prize soon - assuming, of course, the car doesn`t Die Another Day.

"I don`t know what the problem is. We had it running the night before, but when we came to move it in the morning it just wouldn`t start. It`s a major disappointment to us that the people won`t get their ride in it. We particularly pride ourselves on keeping our vehicles running."

The winners, John and Alison Hewat, said they would take up their prize at a future date. Mr Hewat, a retired lawyer from Dean Bridge, said: "It`s unfortunate, but I`m involved in elderly motor cars myself so I understand that sometimes they refuse to start."

His wife, who had the winning ticket at a charity raffle held in aid of Commonwealth war veterans, said she was delighted when she won the trip in the famous car.

"It was lovely to win it. We`ve watched James Bond since we were very young and Sean Connery is Bond as far as I`m concerned."

She said that when her raffle ticket was drawn at the charity reception at Edinburgh Castle, Princess Anne, who attended the event, had asked who she would take with her on the trip.

"I said, I`d better take my husband, though I didn`t mention his interest in old cars, and she said: `yes, it does make for marital harmony`." Mrs Hewat added that, following Princess Anne’s advice, she was considering letting her husband take a turn at the wheel when they eventually got to take up their prize drive.

Fans of 007 and classic car enthusiasts will be able to see the famous vehicle up close at a special Bond theme day taking place at the museum tomorrow.

Two-hour-long guided tours will be taking place throughout the day and will include a special demonstration of all the gadgetry on the car.

Other cars which can be seen at the museum include the Batmobile from the Batman movie starring Michael Keaton, KITT from the Knight Rider TV series which starred David Hasselhoff, the DeLorean time machine from Steven Spielberg’s Back to the Future films and the VW Beetle from Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo.

Tours will take place at 11am, 1pm, 3pm and 5pm and are included in the normal entrance price.

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