The best thing about a 007 James Bond flick is the guaranteed dose of big action, gorgeous women…and, of course, classic gadget-filled cars. From the very first 007 film Dr. No, to the latest installment, Skyfall, viewers have been treated to some the of the most exotic, stylish, and expensive automobiles on the planet.
Writer Ian Fleming created the British Service Agent in 1953 and originally had him rolling in a battleship-gray Bentley. Car gadgets were fairly modest in the early Bond stories as well. It wouldn’t be until Bond hit the big screen that audiences would get a chance to drool over a plethora of outlandish spy vehicles equipped with technology we didn’t even know existed. The following is a list of the Top 10 James Bond Cars ever.
10. Sunbeam Alpine Series II (Dr. No – 1962)
What better way to start this list than with the very first Bond car ever featured. This modest but sporty British gem was originally launched in 1953 and included a later released muscle car version called the Sunbeam Tiger. In the film, it was rented and used by James to transport one of the first bond girls (or villains, in this case), Miss Taro. It was also notably used for narrowly sneaking underneath a crane on a blocked road whilst being chased by bad guys. The bad guys weren’t as lucky.
9. Lotus Espirit Turbo (For Your Eyes Only – 1982)
When you think 007, Lotus isn’t generally the first automaker that comes to mind. Surprisingly, the Bond films featured three different Lotus models (another one also made the list). The Espirit’s first on-screen appearance was in a white paint job, but after an accidental explosion (darn those pesky anti-theft systems!) it was given a burgundy upgrade. The featured image with the ski rack is still iconic to this day.
8. AMC Hornet (The Man With The Golden Gun – 1974)
This 5.9-litre V8 beauty was the basis for various AMC automobiles, including the Gremlin, Concord, Spirit, and the Eagle. But it’s most notably remembered for performing one of Bonds’s “most outrageous” action sequences in the series history. The highlight of the sequence features the Hornet doing a 360-degree barrel roll over a 40-foot-wide Thai river and landing back on all four wheels on the opposite side. Do not try this at home.
7. Aston Martin V8 Vantage (The Living Daylights – 1987)
What’s better than an Aston Martin packed with a 146mph V8 engine? How about one equipped with hub-cap mounted lasers, twin missile launchers, ice tires, a rear-mounted rocket booster, and a self-destruct option? And if that’s not enough, throw in retractable skis, transforming the car into a kick-ass snowmobile. Also known as the Aston Martin Volante (the convertible), this model was hailed as “Britain’s First Supercar” at its 1977 release. Watching Bond glide across an Austrian mountain range in this one never gets old.
6. Jaguar XKR (Die Another Day – 2002)
It’s not necessarily the best Bond movie to date, but it’s definitely one of the best James Bond cars ever featured. It was also one of the first to be completely fitted with a full suite of weapons. Part of the Jaguar XK series, it was first introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1996. It’s a grand tourer car perfect for long road trips, running errands, and ripping around on frozen Icelandic lagoons. Here’s our full 2013 Jaguar XKR Review.
5. Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II (A View To Kill – 1985)
The fourteenth installment of the series featured this 2.11-tonne Goliath (the 6.2-liter V8 may have something to do with that). Bond producer Albert ‘Cubby’ Brocolli actually loaned his Rolls to be featured in the movie. Car enthusiasts remember it for being one of the last classically proportioned Rolls-Royce’s ever produced. Bond enthusiasts remember it for helping the spy survive underwater by breathing air from the car’s tires. Everyone should remember it as one sweet ride.
4. Aston Martin DBS (Casino Royale – 2006)
In this 2006 reboot, we would get a brand new Bond in Daniel Craig and a brand new Aston Martin in the DBS. This new model came equipped with a 5.9-litre 48-valve V12 engine. Spy add-ons included a concealed gun holder, medipac complete with defibrillator, and a computer link to MI6. One of the most memorable scenes was watching 007 flip this stunning automotive an outrageous seven times (7 3/4 according to Guinness World Records). It was so beautiful, in fact, that they decided to bring it back in the follow-up Quantum Of Solace.
3. Toyota 2000GT Roadster (You Only Live Twice – 1967)
One of two cars on this list not actually driven by 007, this Japanese super car was helmed by S.I.S. agent and super sexy bond girl Aki. This limited production, front-engine, rear-wheel drive, two-seater was designed by Toyota in collaboration with Yamaha. The original version was a hard-top but rumoured to have been specifically altered for the movie (into a convertible) to fit Sean Connery’s 6’2″ frame comfortably. Also added just for Bond are various communication gadgets and closed-circuit TVs.
2. Lotus Espirit S1 (The Spy Who Loved Me – 1977)
An absolute Bond fan favourite and the second Lotus to make the list, the S1 may be the most well-known spy car ever. In a ground-breaking action sequence and one of the best car chase scenes ever we get to watch 007 plunge his car off a pier only for it to transform into a submarine (complete with a submarine dashboard covered in buttons and dials). Enough said.
1. Aston Martin DB5 (Goldfinger – 1964)
The car that made James Bond synonymous with Aston Martin, the DB5, would be an absolute crime not to be number one on this list. It should come as no surprise that some have dubbed this vehicle ‘the most famous car in the world.’ So much so that LEGO made a set for it, and Aston Martin recreated 25 throwback units.
Introduced by Q (Bond’s spy gadget guru) in one of his most memorable scenes ever, viewers got treated to a list of nifty spy car additions. These included machine guns, an oil sprayer, tire shredders, rotating number plates, a tracking system, and, of course, the iconic ejector seat. The DB5 would go on to make appearances in several more Bond films, including the latest Skyfall. Simply put – it’s the best James Bond car ever.
