007 Best James Bond Cars
Oct 5, 2017
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- Image Credit: Danjaq, LLC, and United Artists Corporation
007 Best James Bond Cars
It's the 55th anniversary of the first James Bond film, Dr. No. And although that movie's automotive offerings were thin (Sean Connery drove a Sunbeam Alpine), it kicked off the longest-running film series in history that just-so-happens to be inescapably linked to some truly incredible cars. In fact, it was tough to come up with only seven, but hey, how could we not choose 007 of them?
So yeah, feel free to complain about the ones we left out (sorry Z8, DBS and Vanquish lovers) and those that made the cut, but to paraphrase Mr. Bond in Casino Royale, "does it look like we give a damn?"
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- Image Credit: Danjaq, LLC, and United Artists Corporation
Aston Martin DB5
Forget the No. 1 James Bond car of all time, there is an argument to be made that the DB5 is the No. 1 movie car of all time (Here's our take on the No Time to Die cast of cars). It was even once dubbed "the most famous car in the world." The DB5 is the one upon which all others are compared.
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- Image Credit: Danjaq, LLC, and United Artists Corporation
Aston Martin DB5
The original DB5 appeared in Goldfinger and Thunderball. A new one, BMT 214A, would appear as the personal car of Pierce Brosnan's Bond in both GoldenEye and Tomorrow Never Dies. It even managed to somehow keep up with Xenia Onotopp's Ferrari. Well done James. -
- Image Credit: Danjaq, LLC, and United Artists Corporation
Aston Martin DB5
To explain how the modern 007 owns a 50-year-old Aston Martin, the origin story Casino Royale shows that Daniel Craig's Bond wins it in a poker game. This is subsequently forgotten in Skyfall when the DB5 makes its return as effectively the gadget-filled original (and with its right-hand drive restored). Ah, whatever. -
- Image Credit: Danjaq, LLC, and United Artists Corporation
Lotus Esprit S1
As easy as No. 1 is, No. 2 is just as much a slam dunk. Besides being a classic by itself, the Lotus Esprit S1 in The Spy Who Loved Me is part of one of the franchise's greatest car chases. The Esprit was so drastically different than everything the chosen stunt driver had driven before that a Lotus rep had to step in and perform just about everything you see on screen. Well, not everything ... -
- Image Credit: Danjaq, LLC, and United Artists Corporation
Lotus Esprit S1
... And it's a submarine. A freakin' submarine. It was so convincing that Elon Musk bought one of the original film props expecting it to work. It didn't. The transformation from car to submarine took several different models, while the submarine itself wasn't water-tight and was piloted by divers. (For the record Mr. Musk, we would rather have a functional one of these than a Model X). -
- Image Credit: Danjaq, LLC, and United Artists Corporation
Lotus Esprit Turbo
OK, so this is like No. 2.5. The Esprit makes its reappearance four years later in For Your Eyes Only, now featuring a turbocharger, body work and 80s-tastic rouched leather. -
- Image Credit: Danjaq, LLC, and United Artists Corporation
Lotus Esprit Turbo
There are actually two Esprits in For Your Eyes Only, this white one that gets dispatched early, and the second, more iconic one, done up in burnt red, gold wheels and a ski rack. -
- Image Credit: Danjaq, LLC, and United Artists Corporation
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
New James Bond Timothy Dalton gets a proper introduction to the role, as Q hands him the keys to an Aston Martin V8 Vantage. -
- Image Credit: James Riswick
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
The Vantage starts the film as a Volante convertible then is (absolutely nonsensically) "winterized" to include outrigger skis, tire spikes, lasers in the wheel hubs, a rocket afterburner and missiles behind the driving lights. -
- Image Credit: Danjaq, LLC, and United Artists Corporation
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
The "winterized" transformation from Volante to coupe may be nonsense, but the result is way cool and part of a terrific chase sequence (complete with an oh-so-sweet cello). -
- Image Credit: Danjaq, LLC, and United Artists Corporation
BMW 750iL
People hate on James Bond driving German cars, but for those of a certain age, Pierce Brosnan and his BMW's are iconic (A certain editor, perhaps the one who put this little gallery together, may even own one). Of the Bond Bimmers, the 750iL from Tomorrow Never Dies is our choice as the best of bunch. -
- Image Credit: James Riswick
BMW 750iL
The 750iL always seemed like a more realistic spy car. Not only does it do a better job of actually blending into a crowd (something a DB5 or Lotus Esprit can never do), this enormous luxury sedan could be absolutely jam-packed with more gadgets and weapons than anything that came before or since. May we also note that this particular 7 Series is even cooler today than it was back then before it's Bangle-butted successor. -
- Image Credit: Danjaq, LLC, and United Artists Corporation
Toyota 2000GT Roadster
One of the best, most iconic cars to ever come out of Japan. Featured in You Only Live Twice, the 2000GT is driven first by Akiko Wakabayashi's Aki before Bond has a go later on. It features an on-board video phone oh-so-conveniently located behind the seats. -
- Image Credit: Danjaq, LLC, and United Artists Corporation
Toyota 2000GT Roadster
Here's the thing about the You Only Live Twice 2000GT, though: it's one of a kind. Toyota never made a 2000GT Roadster, it was a coupe. However, 6-foot-2 Sean Connery couldn't fit in the thing. Toyota first tried a targa-style top, but it was determined that his head poking out of the top looked goofy. Instead, a full roadster was the solution. There isn't actually a functional soft top under that tonneau. -
- Image Credit: Danjaq, LLC, and United Artists Corporation
Aston Martin DB10
Daniel Craig's James Bond has been an Aston guy. While the DBS' Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace have their moments, they weren't equipped with the sort of gadgets many expect from a proper Bond car. The DB10 changed that with its flame throwers, guns (not loaded) and ejector seat. -
- Image Credit: Danjaq, LLC, and United Artists Corporation
Aston Martin DB10
Although the next-generation Vantage is rumored to look awfully similar, the DB10 never saw production. It was based on a prototype director Sam Mendes spotted while touring Aston HQ. -
- Image Credit: Danjaq, LLC, and United Artists Corporation
Mercury Cougar XR7 Cobra Jet
This is effectively the same car that Bond drives in Diamonds Are Forever -- a Mustang Mach 1 that does a wheelie on the right wheels before somehow flipping onto its left wheels. However, the Mercury Cougar XR7 with that Mach 1's same Cobra Jet engine is not only the prettier car, but was used to much greater and spectacular affect two years earlier in On Her Majesty's Secret Service. The fact that's an exponentially better film than the silly, pacing-challenged Diamonds does have something to do with this. -
- Image Credit: Danjaq, LLC, and United Artists Corporation
Mercury Cougar XR7 Cobra Jet
OK, so the Cougar isn't technically James Bond's car. We don't actually recall him driving it. Instead, that would be the future Mrs. Bond behind the wheel doing that bitchin' powerslide on a snowy demolition derby track. The Cougar is Tracy's car, and with it, she proves why George Lazenby's Bond falls for her in OHMSS. Bond car through marriage, then. -
- Image Credit: James Riswick
Mercury Cougar XR7 Cobra Jet
Tracy's Cougar looks just as good today as it did in 1969. Those hood latch cables signify the Cobra Jet engine (and Ram Air scoop), a 428 V8 good for 335 horsepower. A rare option and the best you could get in 1969 -- perfect for Mrs. Bond.
