It’s well-known that fictional British secret agent James Bond prefers Aston Martins, isn’t it? Well, that’s what moviegoers might say. Yet Ian Fleming’s novels on which the films are based finds secret agent Bond favoring supercharged Pre-war Bentleys. Hmmm.
We all know that Bond films took liberty with this fact and, unfortunately, 007 found himself piloting everything from a 1967 Toyota 2000 GT to a 1974 AMC Hornet. So, of the various vehicles our esteemed Mr. Bond has driven, which cars best mirror the decade in which they were driven? Let’s have a look.
1960s: 1963 Aston Martin DB5
Starring role: “Goldfinger” and “Thunderball”
About the car: Although the DB5 arrived in 1963, it was actually derived from the 1958 DB4. The new model used Superleggera aluminum construction which saved weight. This allowed the car’s 325-horsepower 4.0-liter 6-cylinder engine to provide blistering acceleration for the time. But Aston Martin’s participation in “Goldfinger” wasn’t a sure thing; the company’s finances were so poor; they wouldn’t afford to lend one. Only much arm twisting by the producers shook the car loose. In the end, its use in the film stoked demand, and saved the company from ruination.
What it represents: Sensually, sophistication, and free-spirited, like the ’60s.
1970s: 1976 Lotus Esprit
Starring role: “The Spy Who Loved Me”
About the car: Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro of Ital Design, the Lotus Esprit was the first of a slew of similar wedge-shaped sports cars. But being that it was built by the British, it had its share of build quality issues. Engines overheated, the fiberglass body cracked, power windows failed. So did the timing belt tensioners. Valve covers leaked oil, filling the cabin with fumes. The chassis rusted prematurely, and the pop-up headlights leaked water into the wiring, among other problems. Its 2.0-liter twin-cam 4-cylinder engine was placed mid-ship. But the film’s stunt drivers were unaccustomed to a mid-engine car, so Lotus drivers stepped in to help out.
What it represents: Attractive yet unreliable, an epitaph that could be used for most ’70s cars.
1980s: 1985 Aston Martin V-8 Vantage Volante
Starring role: “The Living Daylights”
About the car: James Bond and the DB5 saved Aston Martin, but the company found itself on the ropes again during the Reagan administration. But this time, the automaker didn’t resist loaning out a car, lending a 1985 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante for the newest James Bond film. It was a fairly archaic car by 1985 standards, but the 5.3-liter V-8 delivered a very healthy 370 horsepower and its design radiated the characteristic Aston Martin sexiness. Most importantly, the Aston Martin connected Timothy Dalton, the newest Bond, with previous 007s.
What it represents: Just as President Reagan frequently reminded us of past glories, so did the car.
1990s: 1995 BMW Z3
Starring role: “Goldeneye”
About the car: If the Mazda Miata rekindled motorists’ infatuation with the two-seat roadster, the BMW Z3 capitalized on it, although unlike the Miata, it was no imitation of a classic European roadster. It was classic European roadster. Very much a reincarnation of the past, the Z3 felt as if you were strapping on an engine, rather than getting into a car. And its handling? Well, it is a BMW. It’s incredibly amusing, a word that best describes the decade. It was the Clinton era; we were all having fun again — even the President.
What it represents: A four-wheeled party that’s emblematic of the 1990s.
2000s: 2002 Aston Martin Vanquish
Starring role: “Die Another Day”
About the car: The V-12-powered Vanquish, cloaked in aluminum and carbon fiber, was a thoroughly modern, and desirable, Aston Martin. Producing 460 hp through a 6-speed manual gearbox, it was the ride of choice for Pierce Brosnan, the last in a series of Sean Connery/Roger Moore Bond wannabes. But despite the newness of the car, it also marked the end of an era for Aston Martin. It was the last model made at Aston Martin’s famous Newport Pagnell factory. For both the character and the car, things were about to change.
What it represents: Just like 9/11: the end of one era, the beginning of another.
2000-and-teens: 2016 Aston Martin DB10
Starring role: “Spectre”
About the car: If you’ve ever read a James Bond novel, you know in the novels, Bond drives Blower Bentleys. In the films, he drives Aston Martins. It’s a hallmark that gives the newest films legitimacy. The same can be said of the DB10, which distills Aston Martin’s design language into a new interpretation of a definitive classic, one that channels the essence and allure of the 1963 D5 without slavish imitation. Underneath, a 420-hp 4.7-liter V-8 propels the DB10 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds. Top speed is 190 mph. That’s helpful when chasing or outrunning criminals.
What it represents: A new-age Aston Martin for a new-age James Bond.