Alchemist gold-plates an Aston Martin DB7
Sigh. Click above for more shots of the gold-plated Aston Martin DB7
Aston Martin makes some of the most beautiful cars in the world. Take, for instance, the critically-acclaimed DB7. Based on the Jaguar XJS platform, styled by Ian Callum and introduced to an extremely excited market in 1994, it was the firm's most successful car ever and it is still recognized as a breathtaking design. So, what do you do to make the DB7 even more stunning? Apparently, if you are the Alchemists, you plate it with 24-carat gold and platinum leaf and embed seven diamonds (for 007 we assume) into its shapely bodywork. Or, if you ask us, you paint it in resplendent British Racing Green and leave it exactly as God and Ian Callum intended. The day after the upcoming James Bond flick Quantum of Solace comes out in the U.K., the car will appear at the MPH Show at London's Earls Court and will be just one of 200 supercars on display. We wish they'd leave it at home, or sell it to an oil sheik... anything to get it out of our sight.
Gallery: Alchemist gold-plated DB7
[Source: Alchemist]
PRESS RELEASE:
ALCHEMIST LAUNCHES 'PREMIUM BOND' AT MPH WITH 24-CARAT SUPERCAR
There's nothing standard issue about this unique Aston Martin DB7. Even the world's most famous secret agent couldn't stay incognito in this 24-carat gold and platinum-leafed supercar from luxury customization company, Alchemist.
The day after Quantum of Solace premieres in the capital, Alchemist will showcase its one-off Aston Martin at MPH The Prestige and Performance Motor Show featuring Top Gear Live at London's Earls Court.
And with seven diamonds embedded in the bodywork, it is sure to be a jewel among the 200 supercars on display.
Alchemist's creative director and modern day 'Goldfinger', Jacques Blanc, said: "Forget the everyday optional extras offered by car manufacturers, this is the King Midas of customization and the gold standard of luxury."
MPH The Prestige and Performance Motor Show featuring Top Gear Live at London's Earls Court runs from 30 October to 2 November. Tickets are available via mphshow.co.uk/info or by calling the ticket hotline on 0871 230 7150.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
wonkydonkydotnet 10:22AM (10/26/2008)
???
They couldn't get the gold on the nose, tail & skirts? -or are these snaps of the unfinished project?
Because if that Is the 'finished' version, then; UG!
Do the Whole Car, or get out of the business. --Arabian subcontinent oil shiekhs fart in your general direction, Jack Blank!
(btw, if you want to see the Gold Standard of Luxury, it's probably somewhere in the UAE and not this monstrosity.)
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Reader 3:39PM (10/26/2008)
I think the pieces that look like they weren't plated with gold is where the platinum leaf comes in.
Henry Townsend 10:27AM (10/26/2008)
They can't gold plate the trim because it's plastic and not metal. Hence the pathetic attempt at color matching with paint. The DB7 looks so old. So pathetically old.
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Benfolio 11:00AM (10/26/2008)
You can plate plastic. How else would all my scale model cars have chrome and gold accents?
cFoo 11:01AM (10/26/2008)
I didn't think anyone could uglified such a beautiful car. Sadly, I'm wrong.
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Dasupersprint 11:01AM (10/26/2008)
It may have real gold on it, but it ain't shinier than a 1987 gold Pontiac 6000. Plus, they realized mid-way that they couldn't do it to the plastic parts...
beurk
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JAZ 11:02AM (10/26/2008)
They should at least try to paint the bumpers and mirrors the same color instead of leaving them pale gold. Personally though I don't like gold cars at all.
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ConceptVBS 11:15AM (10/26/2008)
Conspicuous consumption at its best.
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Gokie 11:29AM (10/26/2008)
God, it just ruins one of the most beautiful cars of the last two decades.
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Schaaphok 11:50AM (10/26/2008)
pretty sure that is the platinum leaf
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Matt W. 12:00PM (10/26/2008)
FUGLY - I love companies that base their entire business on other peoples stupidity.
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Kenjis9965 12:03PM (10/26/2008)
Eh....you know it woulda looked better -all- platinum leaf than tacky gold...
And all tacky gold would probubly look better than this
it just doesnt look finished
How much you want to bet that Clarkson [Given it will be at MPH] will come out, see this car and go "THATS APPALLING" or something similar [or perhaps worse]
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Colin 12:23PM (10/26/2008)
So there is only one of these? If so, then I saw this car yesterday at the Park Lane Aston Martin dealer in Mayfair. I agree, even in person, the car looks incomplete. The window sticker said that the rest of the car is covered in platinum, and it is for sale: half a million pounds! For that kind of money, I would buy the three new and beautiful Astons next to it.
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richardSore 2:30PM (10/26/2008)
Make sure out of the 3 you buy, this is on of them http://gizmoave.com/2008/10/26/aston-martin-db9/ What an excuse to dish away your money like that on such stupid goldness. Tackiness and Aston Martin's DBs dont go together at all.
wonkydonkydotnet 3:05PM (10/26/2008)
Yeah, if these guys were really The Dog's, they'd either metalize the plastic, or Custom Reproduce all the plastic bits in metal, and then plate/leaf it.
I think the process is: clean, etch, vapor deposit ~aluminum, vapor deposit/plate intermediate metals like copper + nickel, then you can do the gold.
Alchemist probably could have gone to these guys right in the UK, if they wanted to keep the plastic: http://www.goldplating1.co.uk/plating_on_plastic.html
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chad.dawkins 4:52PM (10/26/2008)
The gold wouldn't look bad(or at least any worse than gold paint) if they FINISHED it.
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Chris Johnston 9:35AM (10/27/2008)
I'm sure there is a tasteless rapper out there who might want it also.
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Polly Prissy Pants 9:41AM (10/27/2008)
Looks like something Huggy Bear would drive.
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hugo reis 9:55AM (10/27/2008)
Basedon the XK and not the XJS.
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CarbonBlack 1:21AM (10/28/2008)
I would take an Unmolested DB7, and spend the rest of the money on hookers!
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