Top 6 James Bond Cars

James Bond wouldn’t be James Bond if it weren’t for his cars, they’re all as sleek and stylish as his suits and have been made famous for having more gadgets than a swiss army knife. Here I countdown the most famous, the most deadly and the most over the top cars James Bond has driven in.

6. Bajaj RE

Usually known as a Tuk-Tuk Taxi this small, three wheeled vehicle showed up in Octopussy (1983). After winning a game of backgammon against Kamal Khan, Bond quickly leaves in a Tuk-Tuk with fellow agent Vijay. But after seeing one of Khan’s henchmen following with a Shotgun Vijay reassures Bond that the Tuk-Tuk is “a company car”. Accelerating at a speed unknown to a vehicle of that size we find out that it’s been fitted with engines courtesy of Q, the small vehicle is made even more ridiculous by performing a wheelie and causing one of the more fun chases of the Bond films.

5. BMW 750il

One of my personal favourite the BMW 750iL from Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) features some of the most impressive gadgets in a bond car. It features bulletproof windows, a body that can withstand a sledgehammer, electrified door handles and most importantly, can be controlled via a remote control. Bond utilises the remote control by driving in the comfort of the back seat during a classic car chase, he utilises the BMW’s various gadgets such as roof mounted missiles, reinflating tires and a tire spike dispenser all from the touchscreen of his phone. This one sticks in my mind more than others due to the remote control, imagine driving your car through your phone? Of course it’s more closer to being reality than it was back then but my young mind couldn’t cope with the idea when I first saw it.

4. Aston Martin V12 Vanquish

Of course I had to include the Vanquish, or as Q calls it, “the vanish”. Shown in Pierce Brosnan‘s last Bond film Die Another Day (2002) it features what is one of the most ridiculous gadgets any car has ever had. It comes with the standard ejector seat, torpedoes and shotguns but it’s the fact this one can turn invisible that earns it a place on this list. It’s a gadget that’s amazing but downright ridiculous it caused the gadgets of Bond to all but disappear from the Daniel Craig installments. Bond uses the invisibility to somehow sneak the car across a snow ridden compound and then immediately blows his cover when he gets out to investigate. It’s the shortest use of one of the biggest gadgets in the films.

3. Aston Martin DBS V12

The first car in Daniel Craig‘s more serious and toned down run as Bond, the DBS V12 doesn’t pack much firepower, instead it opts for defibrillator and a gun holder. But it’s not for the gadgets this car earns its place on this list but look at it. It is one seriously good-looking car, it may in fact be the best looking car of them all if it weren’t for number 1. I also put it on this list because of what happens to it will always stick in my mind, after a quick car chase Bond is forced to swerve to the side to avoid hitting Vesper Lynd, the Bond-Girl of the movie. The swerve goes horribly wrong and makes the car do a record-breaking 7 rolls, a scene that made everyone in the cinema cry.

2. Lotus Espirit

Okay, so the vanquish can turn invisible, but the Lotus Espirit from The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) can turn into a submarine. A freaking submarine, how cool is that? True it’s as ridiculous, probably even more ridiculous than turning invisible but the fact they made a working submarine for the film instead of resorting to green screens is what puts the Lotus above the Vanquish. And it’s not just a defense submarine, it comes equipped with anti-air missiles and torpedoes to take down any and all enemies who try to come after Bond.

I sound like a hypocrite bashing the Vanquish for its absurdity but praising the Lotus for turning into a Submarine but it’s done in such a way and style that it ticks all the boxes for a good Bond gadget, is it clever? Yes. Does he use it for a purpose? Yes. Is it believable? Not really. It’s such an iconic Bond car as well, it’s the first one that comes to my mind whenever anyone asks me “What’s the best Bond car?” However, it’s not as iconic or as good as number 1 which is…

1. Aston Martin DB5

Ah yes, the Aston Martin DB5. First appearing in Goldfinger (1964) it came to be known as the first proper Bond car, and probably the most well-known due to the fact it’s the first car to come with gadgets. It comes with a full arsenal of them as well; ejector seat, machine guns, smoke screen, tyre shredders, a revolving number plate, a radar and tracker, oil slicks and a bullet screen. The DB5 is such a big icon in the James Bond world that it’s the only car to feature in more than two of the films, originally introduced in Goldfinger it returns in cameos in Thunderball, GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, Casino Royale and Skyfall. It is the car that inspired all others on this list and that is why, including its style and recognisability, that earns its top place on this list.