7 best James Bond cars
James Bond. The name alone is synonymous with style, class, intrigue, action – oh, and cars. Ian Fleming’s character may have changed faces many times over the last 55 years, but Bond’s love of the wheel has always been one of his trademarks. Join us as we count down 007’s most unforgettable rides. They correspond with the gallery above.
7. Citroën 2CV from For Your Eyes Only (1981)
It’s perhaps the most unexpected Bond car ever to hit the silver screen, but this bright yellow, beat-up Citroën 2CV definitely was memorable. No gadgets or bells and whistles, this speedy little lemon was involved in arguably the most humorous car chase in James Bond history.
6. AMC Hornet from The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
It may not be 007’s most memorable vehicle, but the scene it stars in is certainly unforgettable. The jump Bond performs over a broken bridge after he nicks the car from a showroom entered the Guinness World Records as the first “astro spiral” jump ever done on film.
5. Aston Martin V12 Vanquish from Die Another Day (2002)
Pierce Brosnan’s final appearance as James Bond wasn’t a huge critical success, but Die Another Day did bring us a fantastic ride. The Aston Martin V12 Vanquish had the ability to become “invisible”, blending into its surroundings. Illogical? Yes. Silly? Definitely. But could we look away? No!
4. Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante from The Living Daylights (1987)
Timothy Dalton’s Aston Martin was sleek and mysterious, just like the enigmatic spy himself. The Vantage Volante had more to offer than just good looks, however – its “optional extras” included spiked tires, retractable skis, missile launchers and lasers that could cut steel.
3. AMC Matador from The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
The AMC Matador was technically not Bond’s car, but rather his enemy – villain Francisco Scaramanga’s (the late Christopher Lee) ride looked pretty unassuming on solid ground but had the ability to turn into a plane with a quick attachment of wings and a flight tail.
2. Lotus Espirit from The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
Speaking of cars that turn into other vehicles, how could we go past the submarine car? The Espirit was James Bond pageantry at its finest. In a film where the villain lives inside a volcano, why not have an amphibious car? The entire scene makes this film many critics’ favourite 007 adventure.
1. Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger (1964)
The quintessential Bond car was part of what made Goldfinger such a classic – it was the first to get the whole gadget kit and caboodle (who could forget the ejector seat?). Weaponising the DB5, which also featured in 1995’s GoldenEye and 2012’s Skyfall, reportedly cost over 5 times its original price.
Which James Bond film is your favourite? Tell us why in the comments below.
Related links:
James Bond’s suits throughout the decades
10 over-60s action stars who still have it