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List of James Bond vehicles
Throughout the James Bond series of films Q Branch has given Bond a wide variety of vehicles with which to battle his enemies. Among the most noteworthy gadgets Bond has been equipped with have been various vehicles that have numerous modifications to include weapons systems, anti-pursuit systems, alternate transportation modes, and various other functions.
Automobiles
- Bentley Mark IV - Contrary to the films, James Bond's official car in the Ian Fleming novels was a grey 1933 Bentley convertible. The car featured a 4.5 litre engine with the Amherst-Villiers supercharger. In the novels, no gadgets were installed as this was Bond's personal vehicle that in Casino Royale is mentioned as being a hobby that Bond enjoys working on. Its only armament, in the novels, is a high power revolver Bond keeps in the glove compartment. The novel version of the Bentley Mark IV was destroyed during a chase sequence in Moonraker. The Bentley is also the very first Bond vehicle seen in the film series, although it was shown very briefly during Bond's first scene in From Russia with Love and mentioned only in passing in Goldfinger. In From Russia With Love, the only gadget known to be included was a car phone, which in 1963 was very uncommon. The film version of Goldfinger strongly implies that the Bentley was issued to Bond by Q-Branch when he asks Q about the vehicle, only to be told that it had "had its day" and is given the Aston Martin instead.
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- Note: In Casino Royale Fleming writes that Bond bought the car "almost new" in 1933 and had it stored during the war. In Live and Let Die Fleming states the automobile's year as 1933, however in Moonraker Fleming states it's from 1930.
- Bentley Mark VI - Made in 1953, Bond purchases his second Bentley towards the end of the novel, Moonraker. Like his previous Bentley, the Mark VI is grey with dark blue leather upholstery. After Moonraker this model is never mentioned again.
- Bentley Mark II Continental - This Bentley was featured in the novel Thunderball and is Bond's final Bentley. Bond upgrades the engine from a 4.5 liter engine to a 4.9 liter. The Mark II was also grey, however, the interior was black leather. The Mark II Continental is last seen in the novel On Her Majesty's Secret Service where Bond upgrades the vehicles once again with an Arnott supercharger controlled by a magnetic clutch. Bond dubs the car "the locomotive".
1965 Aston Martin DB5 coupe
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Aston Martin DB5 - Featured primarily in Goldfinger. The most famous Bond car of all, it came with all the usual Q refinements that have been copied from movie to movie including bulletproof front and rear panels, oil slick, smoke screen, machine guns, rotating licence plates, telescoping tire slashers, tracer receiving consule and most famously, the passenger ejector seat. The ejector seat would be used again in the film Die Another Day in an Aston Martin V12 Vanquish. While being the most recognized Bond car, it's actually only been featured in four films (Goldfinger, Thunderball, GoldenEye, and a small appearance in Tomorrow Never Dies). In the novelization of GoldenEye it is stated that Bond purchased the DB5 as his own personal vehicle. The DB5 also made cameo appearances in the comedy film, Cannonball Run, driven by Roger Moore's character, and in the TV-film The Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E., George Lazenby, playing a Bond-like character referred to as "JB", drives a DB5 (with the licence plate "JB"). Subsequently, Timothy Dalton is the only official Bond actor who has never driven one on screen. The most recent appearance of the vehicle was in the 2004 film, The Life and Death of Peter Sellers in which Geoffrey Rush, playing Sellers, is shown driving one at the time of making Casino Royale, even though in real life that film did not feature the vehicle.
- Aston Martin DB3 - In the novels, the DB3 was the only gadget-laden vehicle to be mentioned in the original Bond novels; it is mentioned in Goldfinger though Fleming generally avoided gadgetry in his books. It included switches to alter the type of color of the front and rear lights, reinforced steel bumpers, a Colt .45 pistol in a trick compartment under the driver's seat, and a homing device similar to the DB5 in the film.
In Goldfinger, Bond is given the choice of either the Aston Martin or a Jaguar Mk II. He chooses the Jaguar because it has the above gadgets, which the other car does not come equipped with.
- Aston Martin DBS - Featured in the movie On Her Majesty's Secret Service. The car was seen in only four scenes, including the pre-credits teaser and as James & Tracy's wedding car. Nothing is known on what kind of gadgets were installed, except that it had a hiding place for a sniper rifle in the glovebox. Obviously - given what happens at the end of that movie - it was not fitted with bulletproof glass.
- Aston Martin Volante - Featured in the movie The Living Daylights. Came with all the usual refinements including side skis, spiked tires, missiles, lasers, rocket propulsion and could self-destruct when armed.
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Aston Martin Vanquish V12 - Featured in the movie Die Another Day. The car is equipped with all the usual refinements including front-firing rockets, hood mounted guns, and passenger ejector seat that was a homage to original Aston Martin DB5 that Bond drove in. The car was also equipped with an adaptive camouflage device, that allowed it to become invisible at the push of a button.
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Lotus Esprit S2 - Featured in The Spy Who Loved Me. Possessed all of the usual Q refinements, including surface to air missiles. The main feature of the car however was the ability to transform into a submarine. Once transformed it could unleash depth charges and smoke screens. The car was nicknamed Wet Nellie.
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Lotus Esprit Turbo - Featured in For Your Eyes Only, this vehicle was cosmetically similar to the S2, but mechanically different, as it exhibited no submarine capabilities. It was most notable for its remarkable security system, which detonated and destroyed the car when Gonzales' henchman broke the driver's window in an attempt to break into the car. Q Branch provided a second Turbo to Bond - in burgundy instead of white - later in the movie.
- Lotus Formula 3 - Featured in the unofficial Bond film, Casino Royale (1967), this suped-up car is driven, very briefly, by Evelyn Tremble (Peter Sellers), one of several agents given the code name James Bond 007.
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BMW Z3 - Featured in GoldenEye. A convertible, it comes fully loaded with all the usual Q refinements including a self-destruct system and stinger missiles located behind the headlights. Unfortunately, the car, in the film is never really used. Bond ends up trading it for Jack Wade's plane.
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BMW 750iL - Featured in Tomorrow Never Dies. Used in Germany, the car came equipped with a security system that wouldn't allow anyone access without being disarmed by Bond's mobile phone. Also had a security system on his glove box that wouldn't allow anyone access without Bond's fingerprint. The 750i could be controlled remotely via Bond's mobile phone.
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BMW R1200 motocycle - Featured in Tomorrow Never Dies. Stolen in Saigon it was used in a chase sequence ridden by both James Bond and Wai Lin of the People's Republic of China.
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BMW Z8 - Featured in The World Is Not Enough. Loaded with all the usual Q refinements including ground to air missiles and a key chain that can control the car remotely. Sawed in half by a brush-cutter-equipped helicopter late in the movie.
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1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Fastback - Featured in Diamonds Are Forever. After escaping henchmen Bond is picked up by Tiffany Case in this car while in Las Vegas; Bond uses it to elude the Las Vegas Police (all of the police vehicles including the security guard vehicles at Willard Whyte's Techtronics Laboratory are 1971 Ford Custom 500s except for the Las Vegas P.D. which were 1970 Fords).
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1971 Ford Econoline - Featured in Diamonds Are Forever. Dr. Metz is driving a van which Bonds sneaks into.
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1964 Ford Thunderbird - While not an official Bond car, Felix Leiter and his partner from the CIA are driving a Ford Thunderbird in the film Goldfinger.
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Ford Taunus - in The Spy Who Loved Me where Karl Stromberg's thugs are pursuing Bond on a highway in Sardinia (with Jaws as a passenger), Bond sprays grease on the windshield where the car runs off the road - this is where Jaws walks away).
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2002 Ford Thunderbird - Although only in Die Another Day for a short period of time, the vehicle was marketed as a Bond car. In fact Ford created a special "007 edition" of the car. In Bond spirit, only 700 were made. Jinx drives the 2002 Ford Thunderbird up to Graves ice palace. It's unknown what type of gadgets, if any, were installed.
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1957 Ford Fairlane - classic automobile briefly driven by Bond during his visit to Cuba in Die Another Day.
Saab
Other automobiles
- 1957 Chevrolet Bel-Air convertible - Featured in Dr. No. When 007 arrives in Jamaica, this was the first car Bond was a passenger in; however, the car was stolen, as depicted later in the film. It is drived by a chauffeur known only as "Mr Jones" who is in fact an agent of Dr. No.
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Sunbeam Alpine roadster - Featured in Dr. No. Bond drives to Miss Taro's home in the Blue Mountains; he is pursued by Dr. No's thugs driving a LaSalle hearse. In the novel Dr No , Bond drives the car that formerly belonged to Commander Strangways, the murdered agent in Kingston. It is also driven by Quarrel.
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Rolls Royce 337 Phantom - Featured in Goldfinger. Owned by Auric Goldfinger, it was used to smuggle gold by recasting all of the body panels in gold and shipping it from place to place.
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Toyota 2000GT convertible - Featured in You Only Live Twice. Owned by Aki. Two prototype convertibles were built especially for the film; no others were made.
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Moon buggy - Featured in Diamonds Are Forever. Used by Bond to escape from the laboratory. Fast but infamously fragile, one of its wheels can be seen rolling past the camera position as Bond drives by it during the escape.
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Honda ATV vehicle - Bond commanders an all-terrain vehicle after he ditches the moon buggy.
- 1963 Chevrolet Impala convertible - Bond arrives on Dr. Kananga's island with Rosie Carver locating the spot where Bains was killed.
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Double-decker bus - Featured in Live and Let Die when Bond and Solitaire try to escape from Kananga. (Two 1973 Chevrolet Novas are seen as police cruisers.) En route it becomes a single-decker bus thanks to an inconveniently placed low bridge.
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AMC Hornet Hatchback - Featured in The Man with the Golden Gun. Bond steals this car in Thailand, unknowing that Sheriff J.W. Pepper was in it looking to test drive it. It was used for the famous corkscrew jump, a computer-designed stunt that was captured in one take.
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Citroën 2CV - Featured in For Your Eyes Only. A tiny but seemingly indestructible (rental) car belonging to Melina Havelock that Bond uses to make a "fast" getaway after Melina assassinates Hector Gonzales, who murdered her parents.
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Peugeot 504 - Featured in For Your Eyes Only. Two Peugeot 504s pursue Bond right after Melina kills Hector Gonzales.
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Renault 11 Taxi - Featured in A View to a Kill, Bond commandeers this car and takes it on a pursuit through Paris. During the pursuit the car has its roof chopped off and then later the entire back half of the car is ripped off.
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San Francisco Fire Department fire engine - Featured in A View to a Kill. Ladder truck commandeered by Bond and Stacey.
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Tank 343 - Featured in GoldenEye. A Russian tank taken by Bond to pursue General Ouromov in St. Petersburg.
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Jaguar XKR - A convertible driven by Zao in Die Another Day, the car was extremely similar in almost every way to a James Bond automobile. The vehicle includes a gatling gun, thermal imaging capabilities, mortar bombs, rockets under the front grille, and miniture missiles hidden in the door.
- Studillac - A custom black Studebaker convertible with a Cadillac engine, plus special transmission, brakes and rear axle, owned by Felix Leiter in the novel Diamonds are Forever. The combination of the aerodynamic Raymond Loewy designed body with the powerful Cadillac engine made it into a remarkable sports car. Studillacs were not fictional, but actually built by a Long Island, NY company called Bill Frick Motors from 1953 Studebaker Starlight bodies.
Aircraft
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Rocket pack - Featured in Thunderball. A rocket pack based on the Bell rocket belt.
- Little Nellie - Featured in You Only Live Twice. A heavily armed gyrocopter that could be transported in several cases that could be quickly assembled in the field.
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Acrostar Jet - Featured in Octopussy. The Acrostar was used to escape from a mission in the opening sequence. The wings of this plane fold up vertically while not in use allowing it to be stored in small compartments. During this mission, Bond hid the plane in a horse trailer. While it had no armaments, the plane was maneuverable enough to avoid a missile long enough to do a dangerous passage through a hangar although the enemy was closing the doors to prevent him. By accomplishing this feat Bond was able to destroy a prototype fighter plane that he had been sent to destroy when the missile was blocked from exiting by the closing doors. Due to a small gas tank, Bond was forced to land at a gas station close to the border to refill; Bond managed to cross the border while airborne. (Based on the Bede Acrostar.)
- Car Plane - Featured in The Man With the Golden Gun. Based on a 1974 AMC Matador coupe, owned by Scaramanga. During a car chase with Bond, Scaramanga drives the Matador into a disused barn, which was housing the plane section (two wings and a jet engine). Scaramanga clamps the plane section onto the top of the Matador and uses it to fly away from Bond.
- Switchblades - Featured in Die Another Day, the switchblade is essentially a one-man glider thats shaped like fighter jet. It features retractable wings that control the speed and trajectory of the craft. Fitted with the same material on a stealth bomber, the switchblade allows Bond and Jinx to enter North Korea undetected. The switchblade is based on a workable model called "PHASST " (Programmable High Altitude Single Soldier Transport).
Marine vehicles
- Wet Nellie - Featured in The Spy Who Loved Me. A modified Lotus Esprit S2 that could transform into a submarine.
- Wetbike - Featured in The Spy Who Loved Me. A hydrofoil "water motorcycle", built by a unit of Minnesota-based Arctic Enterprises. Used by Bond to travel from the US Submarine to Stromberg's Atlantis to save Triple X.
- Alligator Boat - Featured in Octopussy. Bond travels to Octopussy's island inside a boat designed to look like an alligator.
- Q Boat - Featured in The World is Not Enough. Was created by Q as a "fishing boat" for his retirement. Came with missiles and a GPS tracking system. It could also submerge although the pilot either needed to have his own breathing apparatus or surface quickly before he drowned. However, this feature wasn't exactly finished when Bond took it which could account for why the pilot was exposed to the water using that function.
- Gondola - Featured in Moonraker. While attacked on the canals of Venice, Bond escapes his assailants by using his gondola's hidden self-propulsion system which also included a hovercraft function to leave the water.
- Q's Hydrofoil Boat - Featured in Moonraker; based on a Glastron design. Bond uses this boat to escape from Jaws while searching for the spacecraft launching facility. Comes with all the usual Q refinements such as tracking torpedoes and a hang-glider when an immediate ditching of the boat was required.
- Iceberg - Featured in A View To A Kill. Bond escapes from a mission in Iceland by getting into a boat/submarine built to look like an iceberg.
See also
Last updated: 05-13-2005 07:56:04
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