What’s the most iconic place to take your Aston Martin for a spin? Without a doubt, it’s Furkapass. With its legendary ties to James Bond and Aston Martin history, this alpine road is more than just a stunning drive, it’s a special place for car and film lovers alike.
After an unforgettable week in Modena touring Italy’s top automotive museums, my friend and I headed up to Lake Como for Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este and FuoriConcorso, events that need no introduction in the car world. My friend brought along his stunning Aston Martin Vanquish, and after the shows, we figured: what better way to end the trip than with a proper alpine blast across Furkapass?
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But it wasn’t just any random route choice. Furkapass is the legendary stretch of Swiss road that featured in the 1965 James Bond classic “Goldfinger”, filmed in 1964. It was right here on the Furkapass where Sean Connery’s (James Bond), behind the wheel of his iconic silver Aston Martin DB5, chased Goldfinger’s Rolls-Royce in one of the most legendary car scenes in film history. Naturally, we couldn’t pass up the chance to stop by the James Bond Street sign at the foot of the pass. It made for the perfect backdrop for a quick photoshoot before heading home. Between the cinematic history and the dramatic alpine scenery, the atmosphere was absolutely unbeatable.
Although the pass was still closed just after Villa d’Este, it finally reopened a few weeks ago, making this special drive possible again, and trust me, I can’t wait to go back. It’s the kind of road every car enthusiast needs to drive at least once in their life.
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Rolls-Royce’s tribute to Goldfinger
A cool bonus from this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este: Rolls-Royce marked the 60th anniversary of Goldfinger with the debut of two Phantom-based tributes to the film. These weren’t just regular special editions, they were rolling pieces of cinematic homage.
Inspired by the 1937 Phantom III Sedanca de Ville driven by the film’s villain Auric Goldfinger, these Phantoms were packed with incredible bespoke details that pay tribute to key moments from the movie. Highlights include:
• A sculptural dashboard gallery inspired by the Furkapass chase
• A gold golf putter mounted in the trunk, subtle but sharp, just like Goldfinger himself
• An interior finished in 18-carat gold accents, exuding Bond-level luxury
• And a starlight headliner that recreates the exact night sky above Furkapass on the day of filming in 1964
Even finer touches? A 24-carat gold-plated VIN ending in “007”, umbrellas in the film’s original color palette, and the iconic “AU 1” license plate (AU = the chemical symbol for gold). The exterior pays homage too, finished in a striking yellow and black two-tone, complete with 21-inch disc wheels and a special gold-under-silver Spirit of Ecstasy, referencing the movie's infamous smuggling plot.
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Flashback to 1964: The making of a Bond legend
Filming in the Swiss Alps for Goldfinger wrapped in just one week in July 1964, but those seven days created six minutes of unforgettable film history.
Even back then, James Bond wasn’t just a character, he was already becoming a brand. Goldfinger is where everything really came together: the wit, the charm, the effortless cool. The Aston Martin DB5, the unforgettable set design, the sharp dialogue, it all clicked, and just like that, Bond became a true icon of the era.
Interestingly, Gert Fröbe, who played Goldfinger, never actually filmed his scenes at Furkapass. His close-ups were shot in London and edited in later. But that didn’t stop the production from being a spectacle. The daily call sheet for July 7th, 1964 featured a dream lineup of Bond cars:
• Bond’s Aston Martin DB5
• Goldfinger’s Rolls-Royce Phantom III
• Tilly Masterson’s Ford Mustang, driven by model Tania Mallet
They were shooting a key scene where Bond chases Goldfinger’s Rolls-Royce up a steep serpentine mountain road and encounters Masterson, seeking revenge for her sister Jill’s death. After a mistaken identity and some gunfire, another legendary Bond moment was in the can.
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The Goldfinger Files: A glimpse behind the scenes
Want a deeper dive into this cinematic milestone? The book “The Goldfinger Files” is a treasure trove of behind-the-scenes insights. It documents the Furkapass shoot with rare photos, original call sheets, press shots, and quirky details that even the most hardcore Bond fans might’ve missed.
The public could actually watch the shoot as it happened. Sean Connery kept his cool even between takes, and Tania Mallet, who never acted in another film, held her own with grace and style. She later returned to modeling, reportedly because it paid better than Hollywood.
The book also uncovers other Goldfinger Swiss locations, like:
• Pilatus Aircraft Factory in Stans, used as Goldfinger’s HQ
• A BP gas station at Gotthardstrasse 163 in Andermatt, where Bond and Masterson cross paths again
Even the hotels, bars, and restaurants where the cast and crew stayed are mapped out, offering a full time capsule of Bond’s time in Switzerland.
A road trip through time
Driving an Aston Martin up Furkapass isn’t just a scenic road trip, it’s a pilgrimage. With the Vanquish parked by the James Bond street sign, looking out over those twisting alpine bends, it felt like stepping straight into a moment of film history.
Bond may be fiction, but the roads, the cars, and the legends they create? Those are very real.
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