1 August 2012

James Bond and His Cars

Whether or not you are a fan of the genre, there is no denying the importance of the automobiles featured in the James Bond series of films. These films showcase a fifty year history of the automobile in its glory. Along with the magnificence of the actual vehicles that were featured is the knowledge that Bond’s man “Q” had added amazing modifications and gadgets that were sure to assist Bond no matter what trouble came his way. These vehicles are truly a part of the mysterious Bond persona and made him such a popular figure for movie fans.


  Classic Bond
The quintessential Bond car is undoubtedly the Aston Martin DB5. It is featured in 5 different films and is one of the most recognizable vehicles in movie history. This vehicle set the standard for the sleek and sporty cars that Bond would rely on throughout the spy series. The notoriety of the DB5 became clear when it sold at auction in 2010 for $4.1 million dollars. It was sold with its gadgets featuring pop out gun barrels, bullet proof shield, revolving front license plate and an ejector seat reserved for unwanted passengers.

Expect the Unexpected
One of the highlights of the Bond Films is no matter what the circumstance Bond would always have a way out of it. Luckily, Mr. Bond knew that “Q” had equipped him with the appropriate weapon or vehicle to release him from any predicament. In some cases, the actual vehicles became co-stars of the films. Several of the automobiles are as widely remembered as the Bond actors. After all, could Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan and others actually be Bond without those fabulous cars.

The Cars
The AMC Hornet steals the show in The Man With The Golden Gun when this unsuspecting vehicle performs an amazing leap over a river, while performing a 360 degree barrel roll in mid-air, only to land safely on the opposite river bank. Only in the James Bond world could an AMC Hornet be that cool.

And step back Roger Moore for the Lotus Espirit Supercar from The Spy Who Loved Me. At first site, this vehicle is awesome in its own right, but throw in James Bond and all reality slips by the way side. While in hot pursuit by Jaws, the man with the razor sharp, stainless steel teeth and a sexy villainess helicopter pilot, 007 sends this sleek sports car off a dock and underwater for the amazing scene where the Espirit wheels fold up and the auto sprouts underwater wings for submarine travel. While underwater, the car still has the use of its awesome gadgetry powers of torpedoes, land mines and of course, surface to air missiles to rid James of that pesky helicopter temptress.

Timothy Dalton is the ultimate cool character in The Living Daylights with the Aston Martin V8 Volante. While in pursuit, the vehicle produces lasers from its wheel hubs to slice another car from its chassis in seconds flat. Missile launchers and bullet proof glass provide the necessary safety always required by Mr. Bond. The frozen lake scene is 007 gadgetry at its best, with retractable spikes from the tires, and outriggers/skis for maneuverability across the frozen tundra.

Over the years, the 007 films have enhanced the on-going romance we have with the automobile. Classic and sporty cars with high tech gadgets that we have all wished for at one time or another, while stuck in traffic, keep us returning again and again to see what Bond, James Bond, is up to now.


About today's Guest Writer:
Ryan Devereux does not own any of the vehicles owned by James Bond. He can find his perfect car though by doing a used car search.

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