While James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 is undoubtedly the star vehicle, it is far from the only iconic automobile featured in the 1964 classic “Goldfinger.”
In contrast to 007’s sports car, we have Auric Goldfinger’s 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III Sedanca de Ville. To celebrate the film’s 60th anniversary, Rolls-Royce has created a bespoke version of the current Phantom Extended Wheelbase, inspired by the famous villain’s car. This unique vehicle is dubbed the Rolls-Royce Phantom Goldfinger.
The Phantom Goldfinger showcases a similar two-tone color scheme to its cinematic predecessor and features 21-inch wheels designed to mimic the smooth disc wheels of the original car. In the film, Goldfinger attempted to smuggle a Phantom made of gold, and while Rolls-Royce didn’t completely replicate this aspect, they used a mix of 18-carat gold plating along with silver layers to create the illusion that the hood ornament is crafted from solid gold.
Rolls-Royce Phantom Goldfinger
The interior design also incorporates 18-carat and 24-carat gold details. An 18-carat gold bar, fashioned in the shape of a miniature Phantom, is secured within a vault in the front center console. Gold accents can be found lining the first- and second-row consoles, as well as in the glovebox, which features one of Goldfinger’s famous quotes: “This is gold, Mr. Bond. All my life, I have been in love with its color, its brilliance, its divine heavenliness.”
The Phantom is also equipped with a 24-carat gold VIN plaque, gold-finished air vents, and gold-plated scuff plates designed to resemble gold bars. The walnut picnic tables showcase a 22-carat gold inlay featuring a fictitious map of the U.S. gold depository at Fort Knox, the target of Goldfinger’s scheme in the film. The remainder of the interior is adorned in navy leather and walnut wood veneers.
In one memorable scene, Bond follows Goldfinger through the Furka Pass in the Swiss Alps, which is commemorated by a three-dimensional map of the pass included in the dashboard “gallery.” Additionally, the illuminated Starlight Headliner includes 719 light points, carefully arranged to reflect the positions of the stars over the Furka Pass on July 11, 1964—the last day of filming for “Goldfinger” at that location.
Additional tributes to the film include a gold-plated putter concealed on the underside of the trunk lid, referencing Bond’s first encounter with Goldfinger during a round of golf, along with a fake tracking device that casts the 007 logo onto the trunk floor. The car’s door-mounted umbrellas mirror the design seen in Goldfinger’s vehicle, and the Phantom retains the same license plate—AU1—as the one from the movie.
As with other bespoke creations from Rolls-Royce, the Goldfinger Phantom will be a one-of-a-kind model. Nevertheless, the manufacturer’s ongoing focus on bespoke projects ensures that distinctive vehicles will continue to be developed.
Aston Martin is similarly celebrating the 60th anniversary of “Goldfinger” with a special-edition DB12. The automaker has already produced a limited run of Goldfinger continuation DB5 models, which include working gadgets, although they are not approved for use on public roads.
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