CARMEL — The legacies of only a few carmakers include kings and queens, bespoke builds, stellar performance and mystique. Aston Martin has all of it.

But about 50 years after its debut, the British manufacturer was catapulted into an automotive stratosphere. It became a James Bond car.

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Even among Aston Martin devotees, the car first cast in the 1964 movie “Goldfinger,” the Aston Martin DB5, is special among special cars.

Organizers of the third Astons on the Avenue, scheduled from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday in Carmel, will distribute six judged awards after the daylong show, including “The License To Thrill Award.”

“A nod to the legendary 007,” the show’s promoters detail. “This award goes to the car that exudes the most cinematic presence and espionage-worthy style.”

The DB5 wasn’t the first spy-versus-spy car. But it changed everything when it was driven by the tuxedo-wearing, martini-drinking fictional spy portrayed by actor Sean Connery.

The prototype cars were equipped with bulletproofing, revolving license plates, a homing device, smokescreens, tire-slashing wheel extensions, machine guns and an ejection seat.

Although there won’t be any of the DB5s used in James Bond films, a rebuilt model replete with the original’s accoutrements will be among more than 40 Aston Martins in the show.

The expanding show is held in conjunction with the Aston Martin Owners Club headquartered in Wallingford, England. It coordinated the participation of some members and their vehicles. About 30 cars and their owners participated in the inaugural year.

Vintage and new Aston Martins will be presented, all of which share at least two similarities. They define automotive sexiness and luxury British carmaking.

“I’m a big James Bond fan,” said Simon Bull, the gallery owner and England native. Bull is also the owner of “Cupcake.” It’s a 2020 Aston Martin Vantage emblazoned in Bull’s multi-colored artwork and often parked in front of the gallery. A woman in Carmel wrote a poem about the vehicle and its color palette and she provided the nickname.

Astons on the Avenue is presented by the Meuse Gallery, the showcase of several artists, including the owner’s work. Vehicles will be displayed in front of the gallery on the corners of Ocean Avenue and Monte Verde. The show is free to the public.

A first for Classic Car Week, according to Bull, will be the display of a prototype of a Cirrus personal aircraft prototype.

Astons on the Avenue supports the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. The cause is the personal focus of Simon Bull and his wife Joanna, who is battling the disease. The couple is committed to sponsoring vital research for a cure.

“When we have an opportunity of raising support, obviously that means a lot to us and to all of the other sufferers, many of whom we know,” Bull said.

Through ownership changes, financial woes and varying styles, four Aston Martins are currently manufactured: the DBX, Vantage, Vanquish and DB12. The latter is still revered as the modern-day edition of the car that helped create the enduring allure of espionage car chases.

The foursome looks different than Aston Martins of yesteryear. But plenty also remains from the carmaker’s iconic years. The classically styled exterior lines and the classically plush interiors are the same. Performance is the major difference.

The 2025 DB12 features a four-liter V8 producing 607 horsepower, 0-to-60 miles per hour acceleration in 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 202 miles per hour.

When James Bond was escaping pursuers, the 1964 DB5 he drove had 282 horsepower, 0-to-60 miles per hour acceleration in 6.0 seconds and a top speed of 149 miles per hour.

Much of the carmaker’s legend was revisited when it turned 110 in 2023. The manufacturer reported about 110,000 Aston Martins had been made. It roughly equals the number of Toyotas made in two days.

Bull’s Aston Martin may be the only example painted in pastel colors, but his experience is likely shared by other owners of the English sports cars.

“I’ve driven down the freeway in my car and people have pulled up alongside me, rolled down the window and hung their phone (camera) out of the window,” he said. “The amount of attention it gets is crazy.”

For other events this week visit https://www.seemonterey.com/events/.