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Car Culture

Christopher Bruce2012-10-26 19:27:19

The Cars of Bond, the Cars of James Bond

 
 
Slideshow
The film's premiere was earlier in the week in the UK, but it gets general release today

The new James Bond film Skyfall opens today if you live in the UK and large portions of Europe. If you're from South America, you have to wait another week, and the US and Canada have to wait two weeks until November 9; so do not let it get spoiled for you. 

Personally, my favorite Bond car is the white Lotus EspritEspritLotus EspritUnited Kingdom, 1975 > present1 photo
1 video
from The Spy Who Loved Me, but I'm pretty sure that is because that was the first James Bond movie that I ever saw. Of course, the Aston Martin DB5DB5 James BondAston Martin DB5 James BondUnited Kingdom, 1964 > 19643 photos
1 video
is an icon and very important to both Bond and pop culture, but the Lotus is my choice at least for now. 

Bond always works best when he is driving a British car. The Pierce Brosnan Bonds where he had a BMW never quite worked. Maybe one day we will see Bond in a MorganMorganMorganUnited Kingdom, 1909 > present12 models
142 photos
1 video
or a TVRTVRTVRUnited Kingdom, 1946 > 201223 models
33 photos

Ford Mondeo

You would expect a secret agent like 007 to drive only expensive and amazing cars. But in the movie Casino Royale (2006) he proved you wrong as he drove a Ford Mondeo in the Bahamas. This might well be the most exclusive Mondeo in the world as it was handbuilt at Ford of Europe's Design Studio in Germany and sent to Bahamas before the model was even put on sale.

Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow

The next car on our list has featured several times in James Bond's movies. The Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow has been spotted in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (1969), "The Man with the Golden Gun" (1974), "Licence to Kill" (1989), "The World Is Not Enough" (1999) but it has only be driven by the secret agent in the 1989 movie.

Aston Martin DBS V12

You must give the credits to all James Bonds that they are known for their driving skills, but one thing is for sure, when it comes to preserving their cars they all fail. The Aston Martin DBS V12 featuring in Quantum of Solace is a nice example for that. The car ends up into pieces after a cruel and savage pursuit in Siena, Italy

BMW Z8

The BMW Z8 got famous in James Bond's movie The World is not Enough for being cut in half by the saws driven by an helicopter. We also have to agree with 007 as he thinks "Q's Not Gonna Like This! "

 

Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante

In The Living Daylights Timothy Dalton made his premiere as the most famous secret agent in the world. And one of the prizes for becoming 007 is the chance to drive great cars and be part of great chasing scenes. The higlight in this movie is the scene with the Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante cutting a police car with a laser.

Range Rover Classic Convertible

In Octopussy a Range Rover Classic Convertible was used by Roger Moore to tow the horse box containing the Acrostar Jet he had just robbed with the help of Octopussy herself.

Lotus Esprit Turbo

In For your Eyes Only James Bond had two specially commissioned Lotus Esprit Turbo. The first, a white model driven by Bond in Spain, is destroyed when a thug trips its self-destruct system by breaking the driver's side window. The second one is a red model driven by Bond at a ski resort in Northern Italy.

Citroen 2CV

The 2CV also had is moment of shine by the hands of 007 in the movie For your Eyes Only. The Greek island of Corfu is the scenary of a drifting pursuit with one truly unexpected car for Bond's standards.

AMC Hornet

This is one of the most amazing stunts featuring in James Bond movies. In The Man with the Golden Gun 007 is chasing Scaramanga in a AMC Hornet he has stolen from a dealership in Bangkok, Thailand. At certain point Bond seems to be facing a dead end but in an amazing stunt crosses the river and continue to chase Scaramanga who will eventually runaway in a plane.

T-95 Tank

St. Petersburg was the location of one of the most gigantic chases from the Her Majesty's Secret Agent. In Golden Eye James Bond seems like a kid playing with a new toy as he drives the streets of the Russian city onboard a T-95 tank.

Aston Martin V12 Vanquish

In Die Another Day we get to see another exciting pursuit of James Bond movies. This time 007 is going after his Chinese enemy Zao inside a V12 Vanquish in a thrilling car chase on the ice outside Graves’ ice palace in Iceland. A feature of this Bond vehicle is the "adaptive camouflage" – a cloaking device that allowed it to become effectively invisible at the push of a button.

Lotus Esprit

This is probably one of the most extravagant vehicle Q has ever handed to 007. This Lotus Esprit was delivered to Bond by Q in Sardinia and is capable of transforming into a submarine. It featured in the movie "The Spy Who Loved Me"

Ford Mustang Mach 1

In Diamonds are Forever the Ford Mustang Mach 1 performed one of the most spectacular pursuits in James Bond's movie history. It took place in Las Vegas and its highlight was definitely the Mustang balancing on two side wheels to drive through a narrow alley. There is still a mistery to be solved on that one: how does the car come out of the alley on the other two wheels?

BMW 750iL

This pursuit in a parking lot has become one of the most famous pursuit scenes in the history of James Bond movies. In Tomorrow Never Dies 007 driver his remote-controlled 750iL on the rear seat while he is shot at with a strong arsenal of weapons. Thank god Q has filled the car with all of his amazing gadgets, so we can see them in action.

Aston Martin DB5

The Aston Martin DB5 has always been the mythic car owned by James Bond. In Skyfall the Aston Martin model returns in a movie where Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her.

  • Ford Mondeo
  • Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow
  • Aston Martin DBS V12
  • BMW Z8
  • Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante
  • Range Rover Classic Convertible
  • Lotus Esprit Turbo
  • Citroen 2CV
  • AMC Hornet
  • T-95 Tank
  • Aston Martin V12 Vanquish
  • Lotus Esprit
  • Ford Mustang Mach 1
  • BMW 750iL
  • Aston Martin DB5

Encyclopedia
LotusLotus
EspritEsprit
EspritEsprit
Engine
Straight 4
Displacement
120 cu in
Top Speed
137 mph
Transmission
5, Manual
Maximum power
162 hp @ 6200 rpm
Type
Fixed-head coupé
Fuel
Petrol
Fuel consumption (combined)
--
price
--
annual ownership cost
--

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