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Top 15 James Bond Vehicles

James Bond is one of the greatest movie characters of all time, famous for his suave sophistication, daring stunts and unparalleled skill at luring ladies. However, he wouldn't be half the super-spy he is without the aid of his various supercars, speedboats and flying machines - all complete with their trademark gadgets and incredible modifications. Here is our list of his very best vehicles through the years:   
 
1. Aston Martin DB5
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Often seen as the quintessential Bond car, the Aston Martin DB5 was his main motor in two of the earliest and most iconic 007 movies - Goldfinger (1964) and Thunderball (1965). One of the most beautiful Aston Martins ever produced, it was only manufactured between 1963 and 1965, and its 282 horsepower engine could propel the car to speeds of 145 mph. Of course, Bond's version featured a host of modifications and gadgets, including an option to release an oil slick to force pursuing cars off the road, a smokescreen, bulletproof windows and - most famously - an ejector seat!  
2. Submarine Lotus Esprit
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Photo: Yachtworld+
Amphibious cars are few and far between, but James Bond had one as far back as 1977. The Lotus Esprit, seen in The Spy Who Loved Me, was Bond's only vehicle capable of moving both on land and under the sea. In a particularly memorable scene from the movie, the super-spy evades bullets fired at him by an angry Stromberg henchwoman by shooting off the edge of the pier into the sea. Once underwater, the Esprit's wheels fold inwards, fins and propellers emerge, and a periscope extends from the top. The sporty Lotus was pretty handy on land as well - not only does it look good, but it features a cement sprayer, which helps Bond avoid capture by a group of assassins.  
3. Little Nellie the Wallis Flying Machine
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No list of Bond vehicles would be complete without Little Nellie, the tiny Autogyro flying machine seen in You Only Live Twice (1967). Designed by British Inventor Ken Wallis. It might look cute and cuddly, but Little Nellie packed quite a punch, with built-in flame guns, aerial mines, rocket launchers, air-to-air missiles and mounted machine guns all available to Sean Connery's Bond when he finds himself pursued by five helicopters. There was only one winner in that battle of course! In real life, the plane was not retired after its appearance in the film and Wallis piloted it for many years after, even flying it over Scotland looking for evidence of the famous Loch Ness Monster.  
4. Citroën 2CV
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The Citroën 2CV is an icon in its own right. The model was in continuous production between 1948 and 1990 and it was much loved for its unique appearance, including its rolled up canvas sunroof that inspired its nickname, "the umbrella on wheels", and prominent back wheel arches. Bond drove a yellow 2CV in For Your Eyes Only (1981). It wasn't his own car, so it didn't have any gadgets, meaning he had to use his own driving skills to evade the bad guys after taking the wheel from love interest Melina Havelock. That's not before it takes a famous jump off the road (as pictured)!  
5. Glastron CT150 Speedboat
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Photo: yachtworld
The first actual boat to appear on this list can't travel both on land and sea as the previously-listed Lotus Esprit, but it does do a passable impression of a flying machine during its most famous scene in Live and Let Die (1973). While driving the boat, Bond spots a strip of land ahead - a problem for most boaters, but not for 007. He manages to propel the boat across the land and into the water on the other side to continue his high-speed pursuit. The boat itself became a cult classic, and it is rumored that over 25 models were used during filming, with many damaged or destroyed. Perhaps unsurprisingly, real-life models aren't capable of performing 120-foot jumps. 
6. Sunbeam Alpine
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The Sunbeam Alpine was a two-seat sports car manufactured sporadically between 1953 and 1975. It featured a 4-cylinder, 2267cc engine, with a raised compression ratio. It was one of the very first Bond cars, appearing in the first-ever 007 movie, Dr. No (1962), when Sean Connery's Bond rents a blue Sunbeam in Jamaica and uses it to evade the "Three Blind Mice" assassins. Making use of the Sunbeam's speed, he easily outmaneuvers his pursuers, consigning them to an explosive death.
7. Moon Buggy
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A one-off Bond special, this futuristic Moon Buggy wasn't actually used in Moonraker, as you might have expected. Instead, it provided a convenient means of escape for the super-spy when he is spotted while spying on Blofield's plans to build a diamond laser satellite in Diamonds Are Forever (1971). Bond finds the buggy on the set of a movie that is being filmed in the same complex and quickly works out its controls, making a nimble get away before he can be apprehended in what has since become another iconic scene from the movie series.  
 
8. Toyota 2000GT
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The Toyota 2000GT was a limited production two-seat sports car with rear-wheel drive produced between 1967 and 1970. It is credited with redefining the Japanese automobile industry in the context of the wider world, showing that the country's manufacturers could produce sleek, high-performance sports cars, as well as the practical, everyday cars previously associated with brands like Toyota. 2000GTs are extremely collectible these days and have been known to fetch as much as $1.2 million at auction. The car that appears in You Only Live Twice (1967), is actually a Spider (convertible) version - two identical cars were made for the film, and they are the only 2000GT Spiders in existence. In the movie, Bond himself is a passenger rather than the driver - he is rescued by Japanese Bond girl Aki. 
9. Aston Martin V12 Vanquish
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The most modern of the cars on this list is well worth its inclusion. The beautiful Aston Martin V12 Vanquish was first manufactured between 2001 and 2007 before a new version was introduced in 2012. It boasts a powerful 5935cc engine and was Bond's main car in Die Another Day (2002). His version featured an extraordinary range of gadgets and weaponry, was rigged with various rockets, had an ejector seat and even an invisibility cloak. It was subsequently voted the third-best car in movie history, after Bond's own DB5 and the Minis from The Italian Job.
10. Ford Mustang Mach 1
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The Mach 1 was a high-performance variant of the Mustang manufactured between 1968 and 1969. It featured a 'sportsroof' body and added numerous performance and visually-enhancing elements, such as competition-level suspension, a deluxe interior, modified wheels and a rear spoiler. Bond borrows the car in Diamonds Are Forever (1971), and is pursued through the desert by police in a classic car chase with a memorable climax. Boxed into a narrow street with only a narrow alleyway ahead, Bond leans the car on to two wheels and drives through it, leaving the police trailing behind.  
11. Glastron Carlson Hang Glider Boat
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Photo: yachtworld
The hardtop model of the Glastron Carlson Speed Boat featured in Moonraker (1979) was one of only 300 ever produced, and one of only three to feature a silver-gray finish. Bond navigates along the Amazon River in it, where he is pursued by a series of hostile speedboats, including one driven by metal-mouth villain, Jaws. Bond uses a series of mines, torpedoes and other firearms to fend off the enemy before pressing a button to deploy a hang glider, allowing him to fly to safety shortly before he would have plunged over the edge of a waterfall.
12. BMW 750il
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Photo: vignette3
The 7 Series is BMW's flagship model and the 750il, manufactured between 1986 and 2001, was one of its most well-loved products. It was the first European car to offer a built-in Satellite Navigation system and had an enormous 5.4-liter V12 underneath its sizable bonnet. It is Bond's main car in Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) and his version is modified to include a number of nifty security features, including electrified door handles, a sledgehammer-proof exterior and a teargas dispenser. It also has re-inflatable tires and a cutter that emerges from the BMW badge along with the usual guns and explosives, making it one of the best Bond cars to date.  
13. Iceberg Submarine
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If you're James Bond, sometimes you need a completely unique vehicle not seen anywhere else in the world. We doubt any were ever manufactured in real life, but a submarine disguised as an iceberg appears in A View To A Kill (1985), and is piloted by Bond girl, Kimberley Jones. Blending perfectly into its icy surroundings, it has a luxury interior and features the latest computer technology. Bond informs Kimberley he will have five days alone on the boat with her as they set off.  
14. Red Lotus Esprit Turbo
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The Lotus Esprit was so popular in its submarine guise, it made another appearance in For Your Eyes Only (1981), featuring in another iconic scene, where Roger Moore's Bond is seen driving it through the Alps with his skis on the roof. This particular red Esprit wasn't submersible unlike its earlier counterpart, and given that Bond tells a passenger not to touch any of the buttons, we're pretty sure it was packed full of gadgets. In real life, the Esprit was produced between 1976 and 2004, and was famed for its superb handling. The S2 Esprit could reach 60 mph in 8 seconds and hit top speeds of 133 mph. A truly beautiful and iconic Bond car.  
15. Aston Martin V8
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Photo: vignette1
Last but not least is the Aston Martin V8 which appears in The Living Daylights (1987). A beautiful coupe, it was manufactured between 1969 and 1989 and was entirely handmade. Each individual example that left the factory required approximately 1,200 hours of manpower to complete. The finished article could go from 0-60 mph in 5.2 seconds, reaching a top speed of 168 mph. The jet-black version that Timothy Dalton's Bond drove was a beautiful example of this stunning car. Being a Bond vehicle, it's filled to the brim with gadgets - missiles, spiked tires and even built-in skis. 
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Related Topics: vehicles, nostalgia, cars, James Bond
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