James Bond movies have been a staple of the blockbuster movie genre since Sean Connery first donned his white suit in 1962. The addition of luxury cars to this particular series set it apart from other action dramas at that time.
From fast-paced chases to mind-boggling car features such as machine guns fitted into sleek vehicles, cars truly helped bring this franchise to life.
This infographic and below article will look at some of the most iconic Bond cars through the decades. Fasten your seat belt!
How Many Cars Did James Bond Have or Drive?
James Bond has driven 20 iconic cars throughout the 007 series. Below is a list of each, along with some fun facts.
1. Sunbeam Alpine
The first car Bond drove on screen was a lake blue Sunbeam Alpine, series 11, in the first Bond movie (Dr. No) in 1962. This car was manufactured in England, where many of his later vehicles also come from.
2. Bentley Mark IV
The Bentley Mark IV is the car featured in From Russia with Love, which premiered in 1963.
Interestingly, this car was 30 years old by the time it appeared in the movie.
3. Aston Martin DB5
The DB5 is one of history’s most famous movie cars, and it is the most famous vehicle with agent 007 behind the wheel. It was more or less brand new when it made its appearance in Goldfinger in 1964.
It was later featured in other Bond films, including Thunderball (1965), Goldeneye (1995), Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), Casino Royale (2006), Skyfall (2012), Spectre (2015), and No Time to Die (2021).
4. Toyota 2000 GT
The Toyota 2000 GT was featured in the movie, You Only Live Twice, which was shot in Japan in 1967. At the time, this was the fastest car in Japan, with only 351 models available.
The Japanese supercar was initially a hardtop but was modified to an open-top for the film.
5. Aston Martin DBS
Sean Connery temporarily took a break from the Bond movies in 1968, and they introduced a new actor named George Lazenby. With him came a new car for the then-latest Bond film, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
The DBS later made a brief appearance in Diamonds are Forever in 1971.
6. Mercury Cougar
The Mercury Cougar appeared in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969). However, it did not belong to Bond, but his dear wife, Tracy Di Vicenzo.
The red Mercury Cougar helped Bond flee away from the bad guys under the masterful driving skills of his future wife.
7. Ford Mustang
In Diamonds Are Forever (1971), Sean Connery takes back his role but drives the iconic Ford Mustang. The model in the movie is a Mach 1.
8. AMC Hornet
One of the most memorable scenes from The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) is when Bond takes a 360-degree spin over a river. The AMC Hornet used to pull that stunt remains a legend.
9. Lotus Esprit
For the movie, The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), a new actor came on board and, as usual, brought a new car to the big screen. Roger Moore takes his role with a white Lotus Espirit S1. This car surprised many with the ability to transform into a submarine and back to a car.
10. Lotus Esprit Turbo
The fan love for the Lotus Esprit in the previous movie prompted its return. To avoid repetition, the Lotus Esprit Turbo, in For Your Eyes Only (1981), is not involved in another chase. Instead, it self-destructs and kills a bad guy who tries to smash the passenger window.
11. Citroën 2CV
After the Lotus mentioned above self-destructs in For Your Eyes Only (1981), Bond has to continue with the escape, and the only hope lies in a Citroën 2CV driven by Melina Havelock.
12. Baja RE
In the film Octopussy (1983), Bond uses a Baja RE, also referred to as a Tuk Tuk taxi, to take on a dangerous chase. Bond and his fellow agent Vijay got away, but this scene remains one of the most ridiculous chases to date.
13. Renault Taxi
The taxi theme appears again in A View to a Kill (1985), where agent 007 hijacks a Renault taxi to chase after an evil henchwoman.
14. Rolls Royce Silver Cloud II
Cubby Broccoli, one of the Bond producers, lent out his luxury Rolls Royce Silver Cloud II, which plays a significant role in A View to a Kill. The Rolls plunges into a lake with agent Sir Godfrey Tibbett inside.
The Silver Rolls appeared again in Thunderball (1965), but this time as a background vehicle. And yes, a stunt vehicle was used in the lake scene.
15. Aston Martin V8
The Aston Martin V8 makes a comeback in the Bond franchise after 18 years. This time, the V8 is driven by a new 007, Timothy Dalton, in the movie The Living Daylights (1987)
16. BMW Z3
The BMW Z3 was the first-ever BMW to appear in Bond movies, in the film Goldeneye (1995).
Bond drives the BMW for a short while before handing it over to another agent, warning him not to touch any buttons.
17. BMW 750iL
In Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), Bond drives a BMW 750iL fitted with the most impressive weaponry and car technology. As a sign of how much technology went into this car, it could be controlled entirely via his phone.
18. BMW Z8
BMW gained a lot of popularity and made massive sales from the previous placements, but they signed the third and last by providing the BMW Z8 for the film, The World was Not Enough, in 1999.
19. Ford Fairlane
The beautiful Ford Fairlane appears briefly in Die Another Day (2002). Unfortunately, this Ford did not meet the speed expectations of Bond.
20. Aston Martin V12 Vanquish
In 2008, Bond received a makeover, and the role was taken over by Daniel Craig, who used an Aston Martin V12 Vanquish.
In the Casino Royale (2008) film, the car was equipped with realistic gadgets, including a medical kit, a defibrillator, and a silenced Walther PPK.
What Cars Does James Bond Own?
The production of Bond films has featured numerous vehicles over the years. Car companies have watched as he drove and destroyed some of their coolest creations. Although most of the above cars were simply driven by Bond, he canonically owns the following:
- Aston Martin DB5 from Tomorrow Never Dies
- Ford Fairlane from Die Another Day
- Ford Edge from Quantum of Solace
What is the Most Famous Bond Car?
The Aston Martin DB5 is the most famous Bond car since 1964. It is equipped with guns, rotating number plates, a bulletproof shield, oil ejectors, and the famous ejector seat, among other gadgets.
It first appeared in Goldfinger and has since appeared in seven other films, the latest being No Time to Die, in 2021.
What is the Most Expensive James Bond Car?
Bond has been able to drive some of the most expensive and lavish cars around. Below is a list of the most expensive James Bond cars by price:
- Aston Martin DB5 – $4.6 Million
- 1977 Lotus Esprit – $1 Million
- Toyota GT2000 – $1 Million
- Aston Martin DBS V12 – $316,000
- BMW Z8 – $250,000
- 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III – $150,000
- Aston Martin V12 Vanquish – $119,999
Wrapping Up
From the list of luxury vehicles featured in Bond films and their excessive prices, it is clear that the production team goes big to give us the best and most entertaining films. With an emphasis on action and high-stakes espionage over the past 50 years of Bond movies, it’s no wonder Bond drives some of the fastest and most desirable cars available.
