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While the automobiles of this film franchise have become just as famous as 007 himself, which of the James Bond cars are regarded as the most memorable?

Shootouts with the bad guys, exotic locations, extraordinary women and of course – fast cars – all helped to build the James Bond franchise into the multi million dollar brand that it is today. From the Sunbeam Alpine Series II that first hit the screens in 1962’s “Doctor No” right through to 2015’s custom-made Aston Martin DB10 featured in “Spectre”, the James Bond cars are just as diverse and iconic as the actors who played our favourite secret agent – but which are regarded as our favourites?

Five Of The Most Memorable James Bond Cars

Our protagonist throughout the film series is Bond, James Bond. Otherwise known as Agent 007 in the British Secret Intelligence Service, or MI6, Bond has spent over fifty years on screen taking down bad guys across the world. 

Of course, our hero needs a few items in order to do so throughout the franchise, such as a ‘Bond’ girl, a collection of gadgets, access to alcohol, and at least one iconic car per film. Each of the James Bond cars are radically different, and have certainly transformed throughout their long tenure on the silver screen. While everyone seems to have a favourite, what are some of the more iconic additions that continue to command our attention today? 

The Film: “From Russia With Love” (1963)
The Car: Bentley Mark IV

The Back Story: The addition of the Bentley Mark IV was deemed to be unusual, considering that the car in question was already over thirty years old when it hit the screen. However in several of the novels, Bond had driven a Bentley 4.5 litre, which predated the Mark IV by two years and was likely the inspiration behind its inclusion in the film.

The Film: “The Spy Who Loved Me” (1977)
The Car: Lotus Esprit S1

The Back Story: For the tenth Bond film instalment, the producers understandably wanted to out-do themselves and deliver a film that ‘wowed’ audiences on all fronts, including the Bond car of choice. As such, 007 was equipped with a white Lotus Esprit S1 in a chase sequence that covered both land, air and water. 

The Film: “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” (1969)
The Car: Mercury Cougar XR7

The Back Story: Although technically not his car, the Cougar was essentially a rebodied Ford Mustang that is still regarded as a hardcore pony car. Kitted out with a performance package that included a ram air hood scoop, rally wheels and high backed bucket seats along with a full gauge kit, the chase scene is considered to be one of the best of the series.

The Film: “Tomorrow Never Dies” (1997)
The Car: E38 BMW 750iL

The Back Story: The most famous Bond BMW throughout the series was the E38 BMW 750iL, thanks to fully remote-control capability. Long before Tesla’s ‘summon mode’, James Bond was able to remote control his E38 7 Series and escape from the bad guys. The tech and gadgets included in this car was hinted at previously, but never seen in action quite like this before. 

The Film:Goldfinger” (1964)
The Car: 1964 Aston Martin DB5 

The Back Story: Light years ahead of its time, the Aston Martin featured in this film sported machine guns, oil-slick sprayer, ejector seats and even a ‘modern’ navigation system. The car itself sold for a staggering $4.6 million in 2010, and cemented the half a century partnership between James Bond cars and Aston Martin that still continues today. 

In fact, the DB5 is such a fan favourite that it made an immediate reappearance in 1965’s “Thunderball”, as well as future Bond entries like “Goldeneye”, “Casino Royale” and “Skyfall”. While the series currently encompasses twenty-four films, the latest instalment “No Time To Die” is set to be released in late 2021, and will no doubt give us another James Bond car to know and love. 

Get To Know Your Local Classic Car Expert

Finding a fellow vintage auto enthusiast can feel a bit like finding a needle in a haystack, but rest assured that Classic’s Garage understands the thrill more than most. Having spent forty years collecting anything and everything from matchbox cars to hub caps, he’s successfully followed his passion to source, collect and stock beautiful and low mileage classic automobiles from around the world. With extensive experience in the automotive industry, it was only a matter of time before Wayne expanded on his love of vintage, iconic vehicles to share his knowledge and passion with the public.

Although his passion is for automobiles built before 1978, with a particular love for Buicks, Cadillacs, Lincolns, Oldsmobiles and even Fords, Wayne is just as passionate about the stories of the owners. Just like the cars, he has found that his fellow classic car enthusiasts all have wildly different attractions and logic behind their passion or hobby, and this often translates into how the car is presented. If it’s even remotely different, rare or just plain unusual, Wayne will overcome the relevant logistical and geographical challenges of bringing the cars to his showroom in Australia.

Classic’s Garage is a showroom conveniently located at Seventeen Mile Rocks, that specialises in the restoration and sales of vintage automobiles. If you’re on the hunt for Brisbane classic cars – quite simply, Wayne is your man. If you would like to arrange a viewing or inspect any other of our classic vehicles, please get in touch with us today.