Spent £2.75m on a Bond car? Here’s how to make it road-legal…
![](https://www.cityam.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Aston_Martin_DB5_Goldfinger_Continuation01-jpg-1-1-scaled.jpg?w=742)
Last summer, Aston Martin announced a run of 25 DB5 ‘Goldfinger’ continuation cars. For £2.75m – a price even Blofeld might baulk at – buyers got a hand-crafted recreation of James Bond’s most iconic car, complete with a full set of Q Branch gadgets.
Special equipment on the Goldfinger included front and rear battering rams, a smokescreen delivery system, revolving number plates and twin machine guns (the latter only simulated, sadly).
There is a catch, though: the extensive modifications mean the cars aren’t road-legal.
Back to the future
![Aston Martin DB4 GT Continuation](https://cityam.go-vip.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/iva-6-960x540.jpg)
That’s where R-Reforged comes in. The Warwick-based engineering firm specialises in Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) for low-volume cars such as the DB5 Goldfinger and DB4 GT Continuation (pictured above).
It also builds the Aston Martin Callum Vanquish 25 – Ian Callum’s modified and modernised super-GT, based on the original 2001-2007 Vanquish.
Aside from Astons, other rarities R-Reforged has made MOT-ready include a Ferrari 599 Zagato, Lamborghini Gallardo Zagato Spyder and Land Rover Defender Works V8 70th Edition.
Cleaner classics
![Aston Martin DB4 GT Continuation](https://cityam.go-vip.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/iva-5-960x540.jpg)
Preparing a continuation car for road use takes up to 10 weeks. As a ‘new’ vehicle, it must satisfy modern emissions rules, as well as driver and pedestrian safety standards.
R-Reforged has gained IVA approval for seven of the 19 DB4 GT Continuations built so far. Its fully reversible kit includes upgraded lights, side repeaters, a retractable fog lamp, smoother wheel hubs, E-marked windows and rounded exhaust tips, rather than the slash-cut tailpipes of the original car.
Inside, changes are made to the steering wheel and instruments, and the roll cage is trimmed in padded leather.
Box of delights
![R-Reforged IVA kit](https://cityam.go-vip.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/iva-1-960x540.jpg)
Impressively, the exhaust system is also cleaned up with custom silencer and catalytic converter. Alongside engine tuning and changes to the fuel system, it allows a 1960s engine to pass a 2020 MOT.
The kit of parts comes in a plush wooden presentation case, allowing owners to return their cars to standard spec if required.
Whether there’s space for the Goldfinger’s pop-out tyre slashers and ejector seat, we’re not sure.
Ready for the road
![Aston Martin DB4 GT Continuation](https://cityam.go-vip.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/iva-26-960x540.jpg)
“By being restricted to private tracks, owners haven’t been able to extract the full pleasure of driving a newly-built classic,” says Adam Donfrancesco, head of engineering at R-Reforged, whose CV includes stints at Noble, Land Rover and Aston Martin itself.
“With our service, it’s possible to enjoy these special cars on the road. Alongside compliance, R-Reforged’s IVA service incorporates other changes to make these cars more versatile, usable and undoubtedly provide a better return on investment when they can be used and enjoyed every day.”