Delano Craanen-Vreeken (30) from Dinteloord is a big fan of Aston Martin. His fascination with the English car brand goes so far that he had the logo tattooed on his back. And that’s actually all James Bond’s fault.
“It started when I was given a James Bond game for the Nintendo 64 as a 6-year-old boy,” says Delano. “I loved it and played it for hours on end. When my parents told me there were also James Bond films, I immediately wanted to see them. When I was seven I saw the film That Another Day an Aston Martin Vanquish. I thought the rumbling sound of that car was magical. I fell madly in love.”
“It may sound a bit strange, but I admire a car like that just like a woman.”
He learned everything about the brand over the years via the internet. “I love the history of the brand and the association with James Bond. The contours, elegance and flexibility of the cars also appeal to me. And then that sound, how they drive and shift gears. I fall for that. It may sound a bit strange, but I admire a car like that just like a woman.”
According to Delano, Aston Martin distinguishes itself from other brands. “It is a brand that made almost everything by hand for a long time. Real craftsmanship. You don’t see that in many cars.”
He wanted to show his love for the brand in a special way. “I always want something special, something that no one else has. I love Aston Martin so much and am 100 percent sure that I will remain a fan for the rest of my life. That’s why I wanted the logo on my body forever.”
“I bet I’m the only one in the Netherlands with an Aston Martin logo tattooed on my body.”
Not everyone around him immediately understood that choice. “People said: you’re crazy, a car brand? Why would you do that?” Yet when he was 17, he had the logo tattooed large on his back. He doesn’t regret it to this day.
“It was a very painful process, but I did everything for it. It is also a good topic of conversation. When I talk about the tattoo, people don’t immediately believe it, but when they see it, they absolutely love it.” He even thinks the tattoo is unique. “I bet I’m the only one in the Netherlands with an Aston Martin logo tattooed on my body. In any case, I’ve never heard or seen it anywhere.”
Delano was lucky enough to drive an Aston Martin once in his life. “I had a difficult time in my youth and was removed from home. During a visit to the Aston Martin dealer in Eindhoven, my stepfather told the owner’s daughter about this. Without me knowing it, he had arranged for me to go for a ride.” A few months later they took a ride from Eindhoven to Veghel. “We even reached 230 kilometers per hour.”
The car enthusiast hopes to one day visit the Aston Martin factory in England. “But my biggest dream is to one day drive the Aston Martin DB5.” That iconic car became world famous as the ultimate James Bond car. “That is the most beautiful car in the world, nothing can match it. If I ever get to drive it, tears will flow down my cheeks. It is so deep, I cannot express it in words.”
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