Bond’s vehicles are just full of surprises (literally) and we will go over all the cars that have been featured in a 007 movie in order of appearance and present a full list of James Bond’s cars. The cars were either made for Bond by Q or were used by him or his colleagues to escape and save his life. Every car from the well-known Aston Martins to the Citroën 2CV of his mistress and other exciting rides. Take a seat, this will be a long read but it will be worth it.
List of James Bond’s cars
- Sunbeam Alpine (Dr. No, 1962)
The first car we can see Bond drive is when encountering Dr. No’s assassins. It’s a short chase with an endearing little car.
- Bentley 3½ or 4¼ Litre Vanden Plas Drophead Coupé (From Russia With Love, 1963)
Bond is known to drive Bentleys in the novels, but in the movies, it’s a rare sight. The car was outdated 30 years during filming and lacked gadgets, it only had a car phone. The exact model is also up for debate as some sources claim it is a 3½ litre and others 4¼. It featured a straight-six engine and a 4-speed manual transmission. The car made roughly 110bhp and could go up to 145kph/90mph.
- Aston Martin DB5 (Goldfinger, 1964; Thunderball, 1965; Goldeneye, 1995; Tomorrow Never Dies, 1997; Casino Royale, 2006; Skyfall, 2012; Spectre, 2015; No Time To Die, 2021)
The Aston Martin DB5 of James Bond
This is THE spy car. The grand entrance was in Goldfinger and it has since been reappeared multiple times and has been driven by Sean Connery, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig which makes it one of the ultimate James Bond cars. And it’s filled with surprises. Gadgets of the DB5:
- Bulletproof windows and reinforced chassis – In the movies, the car withstands damage from different types of firearms.
- Ejector seats – The trigger was a red button hidden behind a switch on the gear lever. When pressed the roof along with the passenger is thrown out of the car, getting rid of unwanted company.
- .30 calibre machine guns – Hidden in the front of the car behind the indicators a pair of Browning firearms. In No TIme to Die they were replaced by M134 miniguns.
- Radar tracking – A green display out of sight in the dashboard to scan the position of a beacon. It was used to track Goldfinger’s Rolls-Royce.
- Oil and smoke dispenser – To make the road slippy and get rid of unwanted followers, a load of oil is dispensed on the road. Similarlly, a thick smoke screen from the exhaust pipes can be ejected to reduce visibility and escape.
- Rotating number plates – Switch between UK (BMT 216A), French (4711-EA-62) and Swiss (LU 6789) plates.
- Water cannon – Two fire hoses were attatched to the underside of the car.
- Communications device – Alpine 7817R unit which had a CD player, radio, printer and faxing capabilities to get information from the MI6.
The car featured a 4 liter straight 6 engine producing 282HP paired with a 4-speed manual. The top speed was 145mph/232kph and went 0 to 100km/h in 7.1s. It was a state of the art vehicle when it launched featuring electric windows, leather trim, twin fuel tanks, reclining seats, chrome wire wheels, an oil cooler, and a magnesium-alloy body.
The DB5 raced against a striking red Ferrari F355 piloted by Xenia in Goldeneye. During filming the Aston Martin accidentally drove into the other car and damaged its mirrors but it was repaired overnight. The Aston had a a mini-fridge with champagne as an extra feature.
- Toyota 2000GT (You Only Live Twice, 1967)
The car was owned by Aki, a Japanese Secret Service agent. Aki rescues James Bond with the convertible Toyota when Helga Brandt almost kills him. They are subsequently being chased down but escape. The 2000GT is one of the first true sports cars from Japan which is a welcomed addition since a lot of the James Bond cars are European. The one in the film had to be a roofless version so Sean Connery could comfortably fit in it as it was very compact in size.
- Aston Martin DBS (On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, 1969)
The DBS didn’t get too much action but was casually driven around and was decorated with flowers for his wedding with Tracy. The car also lacked any gadgets. It was only modified to house James Bond’s guns.
The specification of the DBS made it the most powerful Bond car to that point. It featured a 5.3 litre V8 producing 282 horsepower. The gearing was done by Borg-Warner automatic or a 5-speed manual transmission. It could go 261km/h and went zero to 100km/h in 6 seconds.
- Mercury Cougar (On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, 1969)
Not part of James Bond cars but a key vehicle in the movie. His future wife Tracy Di Vicenzo helps Bond escape Irma Bunt in a spectacular fashion. They veer off the road and end up on a race track where they take part in a race on ice.
- Ford Mustang Mach 1 (Diamonds Are Forever, 1971)
Another case of a red muscle car owned by a lady (Tiffany Case) which saves the day. Bond is chased by the police through Las Vegas and takes control of the car, during which a spectacular driving on two wheels stunt takes place.
- AEC Regent III (Live and Let Die, 1973)
007 and Solitaire steal a bus and are chased by police on bikes. Bond slices the bus in half while going under a bridge and does a 180 spin, the stunts help them lose the cops.
- AMC Hornet (The Man with the Golden Gun, 1974)
Another red car. Bond steals the Hornet from a showroom to follow Scaramanga who is on the other side of a river. He finds a broken bridge and jumps with the car making a sideways flip in the process.
- Lotus Esprit S1 (The Spy Who Loved Me, 1977)
James Bond’s Lotus Esprit
Bond had a chase scene with the Lotus in Italy, where the most unexpected transformation took place, it became amphibious and it looks literally like an overweight fish while in water. One of the most memorable scenes of the whole franchise when it comes to cars.
It had an impressive array of gadgets:
Missiles,torpedos and mines – To deal with aircraft, it could launch missiles towards enemy aircraft which Bond did to deal with the chopper. It could also launch torpedoes from its headlights when underwater and place mines.
Cement spray – Behind the license plate, small pipes which were capable of spraying cement to blind others could be used.
Amphibious mode – Just to transform the car into a sub.
Ink ejector – Dispense a thick cloud of oily substance to blind others underwater.
While a some of the Bond cars previously mentioned are sponsorship deals, this deal became about a bit differently. When Lotus heard that the filmmakers need a new car for Bond, they thought of a way to get them to ask for the Lotus. They parked it in front of Eon Productions main office and when the producers noticed the car they became interested in it.
The car itself had a 2-liter engine producing 160 horses and a 5-speed manual gearbox. 0 to 60mph in 6.8 seconds and a top speed of 138mph (221km/h).
- Lotus Esprit Turbo (For Your Eyes Only, 1981)
The Turbo model of the Esprit was the comeback of Lotus after the success of the amphibious one. This time it didn’t get to shine as much though, besides catching bright flames. The car blew itself up after one of the bad guys destroyed a window of the car activating the self-destruct sequence of the Lotus and it caught fire and exploded taking the thug with it. As a warning, the car featured a red sticker with the text “burglar protected” but apparently it wasn’t enough to stop them. The self-destruct gadget featured four C4 explosives placed in the front and back of the car.
Later in the film Bond gets a new, bronze/red coloured Lotus Esprit Turbo.
James Bond: I see you managed to get the Lotus back together again.
Q: I disregard these jibes about our equipment, 007. I don’t suppose you find it funny in the field.
James Bond: Indeed I don’t.
He drives the car to a ski resort in Italy, Cortina with a pair attached to the roof of the Lotus.
The Turbo model had 210hp, a five-speed manual gearbox, and was quick, 0 to 60 in 6.1 seconds, and the top speed was 141mph. Other upgrades include a stiffer chassis, better brakes and rear suspension, which got an extra upper link. The body was also modified with extra bits on the bumper, rear spoiler, rear hatch and more air ducts. The wheels were beautiful 15-inch silver and gold Compomotive wheels.
- Citroën 2CV (For You Eyes Only, 1981)
The yellow Citroen was Bonds only option after the thugs made his white Lotus Esprit explode. It belonged to Melinda Havelock and together they were soon under heavy fire trying to escape from even more thugs coming their way. In the beginning, Melinda drives the car but unfortunately turns it upside down. It was perhaps one of the cheapest cars Bond has driven in the movies, certainly one of the lightest as it only weighs 600kg and featured an air-cooled flat-4 engine which wasn’t the standard for the car, in fact, it was taken from a Citroen GS.
- Tuk Tuk Taxi (Octopussy, 1983)
After James Bonds stay at the casino where he was very lucky, he leaves the building with Vijay but their drive to meet Q is hindered by thugs. The Tuk Tuk looks anything like James Bond’s other cars.
James Bond: Vijay, we have company!
Vijay: No problem, this is a company car.
The “taxi” is fitted with a more powerful engine by Q and is capable of making wheelies. During the chase, Vijay, whose actor is a professional tennis player, fittingly fights off some thugs with a tennis racket.
- Alfa Romeo GTV6 (Octopussy, 1983)
One of the most understated cars 007 uses to save the day. While on his way to the US air force base in Germany to put off a nuclear bomb, he falls off his ride (a train) and needs to find a new one. While trying to use the public telephone some lady beats him to it and he decides to steal the lady’s Alfa Romeo GTV6. He also attracts the German police but has to make a run for it.
The GTV was full of personality. Starting from the looks, the bonnet had a distinctive bulge, the back was swooping and the shape was a beautiful wedge. The sound of the all-alloy V6 was magnificent.
- Renault 11 TXE (A View to a Kill, 1985)
James Bond steals the Renault from a taxi driver in Paris. He needs to chase down May Day because she killed a French agent. The car gets its top removed and then its back torn off as well. The car was chosen for its low cost.
- Aston Martin V8 (The Living Daylights, 1987)
Aston Martin V8
This Aston martin started off as a convertible at the beginning of the movie. Later it had to be winterized and was rebuilt to be a hardtop and got some extra spice from Q. It also featured an impressive list of gadgets:
Ice tires – The chase took place in extra-snowy conditions.
Jet engine – Behind the rear number plate to give the car a boost.
Outrigger – Metal skis to use on ice or snow.
Lasers – Hidden inside wheels, powerful lasers that can cut through a car.
Tire spikes – To provide extra traction on snow and ice.
Missiles – Behind fog lights in the front, a pair of missiles controlled from the center armrest.
Heads-up display – Targeting system for the missiles, providing information about elevation and distance, ambient temperature, car speed, time to target, and two crosshairs.
Self-destruct – A big red button, which Bond used to detonate the car after the chase.
- BMW Z3 (Goldeneye, 1995)
A sleek german cabriolet which unfortunately didn’t get enough screentime to its name. It also had some impressive gadgets.
Q: Right, now pay attention 007. First, your new car, BMW. Agile, five forward gears, all points radar, self-destruct system, and naturally, all the usual refinements. Now, this I’m particularly proud of, behind the headlights, stinger missiles!
James Bond: Excellent, just the thing for unwinding after a rough day at the office.
Q: Need I remind you, 007, that you have a license to kill, not to break the traffic laws.
- T-54 Tank (Goldeneye, 1995)
Chasing General Ourumov through St. Petersburg who had Natalya as a hostage, Bond decided to use a big gadget, a cannon on tracks. Ourumov tries to escape on an armored train but James Bond parks the tank on the rails and the train crashes into it.
- BMW 750iL (Tomorrow Never Dies, 1997)
James Bond’s BMW 7. series
The 7. series had a great showing and deserves a spot inside James Bond cars (it was actually a rebadged 740). Its withstanding to the thugs in Atlantic Hotel parking garage was impressive, surviving grenades, assault rifles, and sledgehammers before driving off the roof and crashing into a car rental shop. It was very interesting gadget wise and had features not seen before such as:
Remote control – Using his Ericsson cellphone, Bond could take control of the car steering and accelerating from anywhere.
Fingerprint secured compartment – 007 houses his gun and a GPS encoder on the passenger side.
Electric shock security system – Touch the car and you get electrocuted.
Enforced bodywork and glass – Stopping everything from bullets to sledgehammers.
Tear-gas – To make escaping easy.
Missiles – Hidden in the sunroof, an array of missiles opens.
Tire nails – Drop triangular sharp stars to shred chasers’ tires.
Reinflating tires – Never lose pressure
Automatically closing doors – You don’t have to slam the door.
Cable cutter – underneath the BMW bonnet logo.
- BMW Z8 (The world Is Not Enough, 1999)
The Z8 looks amazing and is the best looking one out of all his BMWs and the last bimmer in the James Bond cars collection. A bit sad that 007 only got to use the car for under a minute before it got cut up in half by a chainsaw. The list of gadgets added by Q was impressive: surface-to-air missiles, titanium armor, multi-tasking heads-up display, six cup holders, and remote control.
- Aston Martin Vanquish (Die Another Day, 2002)
Bond’s Vanquish
Going back to his roots, a sleek British automobile, the Vanquish is a perfect addon to the collection of James Bond cars. Q did a stellar job of adding new equipment to the car as well.
Q: Your new transportation.
James Bond: Maybe you’ve been down here too long.
Q: The ultimate in British engineering.
James Bond: You must be joking.
Q: As I learned from my predecessor, Bond, I never joke about my work. Aston Martin calls it the Vanquish, we call it the Vanish.
James Bond: Oh, very good.
Q: Adaptive camouflage, tiny cameras on all sides project the image they see onto a light-emitting polymer skin on the opposite side. You see, to the casual eye, it’s as good as invisible. Plus all the usual refinements, ejector seat, torpedoes, target-seeking shotguns to shoot down mobile objects. Why don’t you acquaint yourself with the manual, you should be able to shoot through that in a couple of hours.
James Bond: Just took a few seconds, Q.
Q: Wish I could make you vanish!
The Aston wasn’t striking only on the outside, it is packed with performance. A huge 5.9-liter V12 engine making 460hp and 542Nm of torque. The top speed is 306! km/h (190mp/h) and 0 to 100km/h in 4.3 seconds. The chase the car was in was also amazing and the villain Zao’s car was just as awesome, the green Jaguar XKR.
Zao’s Jaguar XKR
The green XKR was very heavily armed and was eerily similar to a Q Branch vehicle. It had a rear-mounted gatling gun, missile launchers, and mortar bombs in the trunk. It also had thermal imaging and spikes in the front grille to ram others. It was a little bit modest in performance when compared to the Aston Martin Vanquish of Bond. packing a 370hp V8 engine, accelerating to 100km/h in 5.2 seconds and the top speed was 250km/h.
- Aston Martin DBS (Casino Royale, 2006; Quantum of Solace, 2008)
Starting off the Daniel Craig era, we have another Aston. Even more striking and powerful than the Vanquish, with a 6.0liter V12 engine making 510hp, 307km/h top speed, and 4.2 seconds 0 to 100km/h time.
The DBS returns in Quantum of Solace to take part in a chase scene in which it goes against an Alfa Romeo 159. This was the last film in a 3 movie sponsorship deal with Aston.
- Aston Martin DB10 (Spectre, 2015)
For Spectre, Aston martin was approached to again supply the new Bond car. A gorgeous $3 million prototype DB10. It featured a V8 engine and a 6-speed manual gearbox. Packed with gadgets:
Machine gun – Mounted in the rear, a double-barrel gun comes out behind the AM badge.
Flamethrowers – Two extremely bright jolts of flame exit from the exhausts.
Cabin atmosphere package – Intended for agent 009, a selection of music by which Bond is not amused.
Reinforced chassis – Bullet-proof windows, thick chassis which can stand firepower, so strong that no marks are left on the body itself.
Ejector seat – The roof is blown-off and the driver and passenger will be flown off the car with the seat which includes a parachute.
HUD – A display to help with locking on to the targets.
The Aston Martin of James Bond was again accompanied by a villain’s Jaguar. This time a bright orange C-X75, which didn’t make into production because of Jaguar’s financial problems but was nevertheless specifically made for the movie. Driven by Mr. Hinx on the roads of Rome when it gets ignited by Bond’s Aston.
James Bond Cars in No Time To Die (2021)
The latest installment of 007 is dropping at the end of September. From the trailer and production materials we already got a glimpse into some of the cars that will be featured in the film:
- Aston Martin DB5
- Aston Martin Valhalla
- Aston Martin V8
- Jaguar XE-S
- Land-Rover Range Rover Sport SVR
- Toyota Land Cruiser
- Lancia Thesis
- Maserati Quattroporte IV
- Land-Rover Range Rover (Series I)
- Land-Rover 88” Series III
