It was during the global pandemic in early 2020, and Joe Kaminkow suddenly found himself with some free time—a lot of free time. A world-renowned creator of video games, pinball machines, and slot machines, Joe is also an enthusiastic car collector with an amazing garage full of classics.
Joe got his start back in 1980 designing video games for Williams Electronics, the company that gave us such classics from the golden age of video games that include the groundbreaking Defender and its sequel, Stargate; Joust; Robotron: 2084; and Sinistar, to name but a very few. He then went on to co-found Data East Pinball (which ended up as Stern Pinball) and helped create the wildly popular Wheel of Fortune slot machine at International Game Technology (IGT). Today, he is the CIO of Aristocrat Gaming. As such, it seemed only natural for Joe to turn his talent and passion to building highly detailed 1:8-scale diecast models at his dining room table at his home in Las Vegas.
As the days blurred into months, Joe found himself bored with building models, so he started imagining a bigger and more challenging project. “I’ve always loved cars, and over the years as I became a little more successful, I’ve built up an eclectic collection,” Joe says. “It ranges from a Fiat 500 Gucci, which is a really fun little car to drive, all the way up to a Ford GT, which is an incredible supercar. My friends call it the ‘Cats and Dogs’ collection.”
Also included are highly authentic examples of the original 1966 Batmobile and a Back to the Future DeLorean. “One of my best friends, Bob Gale, co-wrote Back to the Future and I designed the Back to the Future pinball machine, so it made sense to buy the DeLorean,” explains Joe. “And my Batmobile is based off the molds of the original George Barris cars. The guy in charge of special effects at Burning Man helped me figure out how to make the rear jet-exhaust flame work properly without blowing myself up.”
As Joe contemplated his collection and the options for a new project, the idea came to him: the James Bond Aston Martin DB5 from 1964’s Goldfinger. “I knew Aston Martin had built the twenty-five Continuation cars, but those cars aren’t street legal, and I didn’t see the point of spending all that money on a car I couldn’t drive on public roads,” says Joe. “So I decided to build my own!”
First, like any good Bond assignment, the project would need a code name. And so it was that “Operation Grand Slam” came to be as a reference to Goldfinger’s master plan in the movie.
To start with, Operation Grand Slam would require a 1965 DB5 with right-hand drive. Joe made a call to his good friend Doug Redenius, owner of one of the world’s largest private collections of James Bond memorabilia. Joe had met Doug back in 1996, when Joe was making a James Bond 007 pinball machine. Doug put Joe in touch with Don Rose, a noted car collector and an authority on classic cars and Aston Martins in particular. Don knew of a nice DB5 owned by Bruce Crocker in Boston. Don connected buyer with seller, and Operation Grand Slam began.
“I have developed a unique skill set designing video games and pinball machines,” relates Joe. “Over the course of my career, I have developed a team of friends including artists, sound engineers, mechanical engineers, and computer and software experts. I was able to explain my vision for the car and my friends were kind enough to join me on the journey.”
But who would oversee and orchestrate Operation Grand Slam’s complex logistics from start to finish? After much research, Joe decided that Kevin Kay Restorations in Redding, California, would be the perfect choice. Joe called Walter Boehringer, KKR’s general manager, and shared with him what his goals were. “When Joe told me that he wanted to build the world’s best 007 DB5, I was a bit skeptical. But Joe was very persuasive, and he convinced me that he had the determination, skills, and most important of all the commitment to see the project to a successful conclusion.”
Next, Joe consulted with Stephen Archer, a world-renowned expert in both James Bond and Aston Martins. Joe decided to make his DB5 match the original #1 Goldfinger as closely as possible. “I didn’t want to just make a Bond DB5, I wanted to make the best DB5 in the world,” says Joe. “That meant from the level of fit and finish, the quality of the interior, and the restoration of the engine. The goal was to restore the car to a Pebble Beach standard. Where possible, we’d use modern technology to improve the car. And then with the inclusion of the gadgets, we took it to the extreme.”
The DB5 arrived at KKR’s shop in September 2020 and Operation Grand Slam began in earnest. “We started with the engine rebuild,” says Walter. “We put in upgraded camshafts, and polished and ported the head.” The six-cylinder engine’s displacement was increased from 4.0 liters to 4.2 liters. “We upgraded the suspension, most notably the springs, because adding all the gadgets increased the car’s weight by around four hundred pounds.”
Exterior Gadgets:
- Ballistic carbon-fiber bullet-proof rear shield
- Front and rear battering rams
- Twin front propane-fueled firing machine guns
- Front and rear revolving license plates
- Rear smoke-screen delivery system
- Rear oil-slick delivery system
- Rear-dispensed tire-puncturing spikes
- Simulated tire slashers at each wheel
- Removable passenger-seat roof panel
- Radar wing mirror
The biggest challenge was finding room inside the car for all the gadgets and the computer system and input/output board that controlled them, as well as accessories such as air conditioning, power steering, and a modern audio system. “A car of this vintage is much smaller than a modern car of today,” notes Walter. “Joe had decided early on that the car would be controlled by a custom app, so we had to find room for the computer and the wiring harnesses for everything.”
Interior Gadgets:
- iPhone/Apple Watch app for gadget activation
- Simulated radar screen tracker with 100 hours of custom gaming content
- Gearshift actuator button
- Armrest and center console-mounted switchgear
- Under-seat hidden weapons/storage tray
- Simulated ejector seat with roof hatch
Joe couldn’t resist adding touches as only a game designer could. The radar display doubles as a touchscreen for an entertainment system. Features include a multiple-choice trivia game with questions about every Bond movie starring Sean Connery, a “Magic 007 Ball” to answer passengers’ questions, a custom slot machine, and a car-chase shooting game. To finish it all off, Joe designed original art and dialogue for the screen as an homage to the Bond films, including the newest “Bond girl,” Joe’s wife, Benita.
After a year in KKR’s California shop, the DB5 headed east to Chicago where the programmers and electrical engineers would work to integrate the gadgets. “I had some friends in Chicago that created a lot of operating systems and pinball systems,” says Joe. “I think the car has 9000 lines of Python computer code running it. Every gadget can be controlled with an app on an iPhone or an iPad or an Apple watch. Now that’s secret agent stuff!”
The DB5 required almost nine months for the electrical engineering and customized computer parts, then 18 months for the computer software and creating video games to play. Joe couldn’t resist adding “Easter eggs” to the car to surprise and delight. “The gold sovereigns underneath the glovebox cover were inspired by the sovereigns they had in the side of the suitcase in From Russia with Love,” he says. “I had custom lights created so that when you open the doors, ‘007’ shines onto the pavement.”
Finally, after a team of 45 craftspeople labored over four years for more than 15,000 hours (not including Joe’s time), the completed DB5 was delivered to Joe’s garage in May 2024. Joe’s tribute to 007 made its public debut in August 2024 at The Quail during Monterey Car Week. “It was amazing, and people really seemed to enjoy it,” Joe recalls. “I think we might have upset a few people because we accidentally activated the smoke screen during an introduction and everybody was looking at us, not at them.
The DB5 next appeared at the Wynn Las Vegas in early November where it was one of the featured cars and won a special award. Then the DB5 was displayed at SEMA 2024 where it won in its European and Sports Cars Class.
The Amelia is thrilled to welcome Joe, Benita, and many of the team members who made the James Bond 007 DB5 possible. “I’ve never been to The Amelia before, and I’ve always wanted to,” says Joe. “I can’t think of a better way to attend for the first time than sharing this really special car at the concours.”
Report by Kirk Seaman
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