Top 10 James Bond Automobiles
Among Movie Cars, Nobody Does it Better
Fifty years of James Bond movies brought us memorable characters, villains and gadgets, but the classic cars he and others drive rise to the level of co-stars. Here are the 10 best and the movies in which they appeared, according to James Riswick, Automotive Editor at Edmunds.com.
#10 – Aston Martin DBS (Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace)
One of many Astons used in the film chase accidentally plunged through a guard rail into Lake Garda, though that didn’t make the movie.
#9 – BMW Z8 (The World is Not Enough)
The Z8 featured little missiles that emerged from the side gills and a steering wheel to control them. It also met an untimely end that generated filmgoers’ groans.
#8 – Ford Mustang Mach 1 (Diamonds Are Forever)
Unfortunately, this one is known more for the director’s hatred of American cars and an infamous continuity error than for its story line.
#7 – Toyota 2000GT Roadster (You Only Live Twice)
Bond didn’t actually drive the car in the movie, but a Japanese agent shows up twice to save Bond from an untimely end.
#6 – Lotus Esprit Turbo (For Your Eyes Only)
OK, so it wasn’t as strong a character as some others – and one version gets blown up by its own self-destruct system – but something about the red paint, gold wheels and graphics, and white-lettered tires that make it “incredibly cool.”
#5 – Mercury Cougar XR-7 (On Her Majesty’s Secret Service)
Diana Rigg’s car stole the show in this “fan-favorite” film. It had no gadgets, but made a notable escape in a stock car race through the snow-bound Swiss Alps.
#4 – BMW 750iL (Tomorrow Never Dies)
BMW supplied 10 cars to the production, including popular accessories such as sunroof-mounted rockets, a hidden gun compartment behind the airbag, smash-proof windows, electrified door handles, noxious gas canisters and mobile phone control.
#3 – Aston Martin V8 Vantage (The Living Daylights)
The “winterized” Aston featured outrigger skis, spikes that deploy from the tires, lasers mounted in the wheel hubs, a rocket afterburner and missiles hidden behind the driving lights.
#2 – Lotus Esprit S1 (The Spy Who Loved Me)
Can anyone who saw this movie forget one of the series’ best car chases, or the Lotus’ transformation into a submarine for an underwater chase?
#1 – Aston Martin DB5 (Skyfall)
An automotive and movie icon, its sixth Bond appearance in just-released Skyfall follows roles in Goldfinger, Thunderball, GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies and Casino Royale.
Vehicles Stolen by James Bond
- BMW R1200 in Tomorrow Never Dies
- Ford Bronco II in Quantum of Solace
- Ferrari F355 GTS in GoldenEye
- AEC Regent RT in Live and Let Die
- Cessna 172 in Live and Let Die
- Glastron GT-150 in Live and Let Die
- Glastron CV-19 in Live and Let Die
- Alfa Romeo GTV6 in Octopussy
- AMC Hornet in The Man with the Golden Gun
Most Popular Bond Car Brands
- Aston Martin – 8
- Ford – 4
- Bentley – 2
- Lincoln – 2
- Lotus – 2
- Audi – 1
- BMW – 1
- Chevrolet – 1
- Range Rover – 1
- Rolls Royce – 1
Number of Unique Cars by Bond Actor
- Sean Connery – 5
- Pierce Brosnan – 5
- Roger Moore – 5
- Timothy Dalton – 4
- Daniel Craig – 3
- George Lazenby – 1
