Spy Wheels
Q-Branch has equipped Bond with several gadgets over the years. None proved more iconic than his succession of Aston Martins. Each model carried danger in the glove box and heartbreak in the rearview mirror.
DB5 (1963–1965)
Just imagine a silver sports car ejecting its passenger through the roof while Sean Connery delivers the immortal line, "Ejector seat? You're joking!" This wasn't just cinema magic; it was the birth of the most famous car in movie history.
Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger (1964) by Cars and Movies
DB5 (1963–1965) (Cont.)
The DB5's starring role in 1964's Goldfinger changed both the Bond franchise and Aston Martin forever. What makes this story even more remarkable is that the brand initially didn't want to participate. It was reluctant to loan its brand-new prototype to the film crew.
Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand, Wikimedia Commons
DB5 (1963–1965) (Cont.)
But thankfully, they relented. That original prototype, chassis DP/216/1 with registration BMT 216A, became worth millions until it was mysteriously stolen from a Florida hangar in 1997 and remains missing to this day. It even spawns its own podcast series about the heist.
Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger (1964) by Cars and Movies
DBS (1967–1972)
Unlike every other Bond car that came loaded with Q-Branch gadgets, George Lazenby's 1969 DBS in On Her Majesty's Secret Service was refreshingly honest about what it actually was. A proper gentleman's grand tourer. The only "gadget" hidden in its glove compartment was a telescopic rifle.
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service-Aston Martin DBS by The Bond Briefing
DBS (1967–1972) (Cont.)
This olive green beauty represented a pivotal moment for both Bond and Aston Martin. The DBS was the company's bold attempt to modernize its look, featuring a fastback design that broke away from the classic DB lineage. It showcased a squared-off grille and a muscular stance.
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service-Aston Martin DBS by The Bond Briefing
DBS (1967–1972) (Cont.)
Tragically, it's also the car where Bond's wife Tracy meets her fate in the film's heartbreaking finale, making it perhaps the most emotionally significant vehicle in the franchise. Mechanically, the DBS initially came with a 4.0L DOHC straight-six engine producing about 280 bhp.
V8 Volante (1978–1989)
After an 18-year absence from Bond films, Aston Martin's return in 1987's The Living Daylights was nothing short of spectacular. It started with a convertible that belonged to the brand's own chairman. Victor Gauntlett's personal V8 Volante served as Timothy Dalton's initial ride.
Every Aston Martin in James Bond Explained | WIRED by WIRED
V8 Volante (1978–1989) (Cont.)
The beast came complete with its luxurious drop-top configuration and Vantage-specification engine. However, the fascinating twist comes when Q "winterizes" the car for Bond's mission to Czechoslovakia. In a clever bit of movie magic, the convertible Volante turns into a hardtop V8 coupe.
Every Aston Martin in James Bond Explained | WIRED by WIRED
V8 Volante (1978–1989) (Cont.)
It possesses retractable skis, laser-equipped wheels, and rocket boosters. Additionally, it has an aluminum body over a steel superstructure, with a length of about 184 inches (4674 mm), a width of around 72 inches (1829 mm), and a low height of approximately 53 inches (1346 mm).
Mr.choppers, Wikimedia Commons
V8 (1972–1989)
When Britain needed its "first supercar," Aston Martin delivered with the V8 Vantage—a machine so powerful it could outrun a Ferrari Daytona from 0–60 mph, achieving the sprint in just 5.3 seconds. The 5.3-liter V8 under the hood was producing serious horsepower.
MrWalkr, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
V8 (1972–1989) (Cont.)
The production team's challenge was immediate: Aston Martin had an 18-month waiting list for new cars, so they had to buy four used V8s from the secondary market. These were then converted into rolling arsenals displaying heat-seeking missiles behind retractable fog lights and wheel-mounted lasers.
Jagvar at English Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons
V8 (1972–1989) (Cont.)
Designed by William Towns, the V8 had a distinct two-headlamp front end, replacing the earlier DBS grille design, and favored sleek grand tourer looks with some models having a taller hood scoop for the carburetors. This automobile was widely acclaimed for being luxurious and hand-built.
nakhon100, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
V12 Vanquish (2001–2007)
In 2002's Die Another Day, Pierce Brosnan's Bond received what was arguably the most advanced piece of automotive technology ever conceived for the screen. It was a V12 Vanquish that could turn completely invisible. The "adaptive camouflage" represented the peak of early 2000s digital ambition.
Aston Martin V12 Vanquish from Die Another Day (2002) by Cars and Movies
V12 Vanquish (2001–2007) (Cont.)
Behind the science fiction facade lived a genuinely revolutionary sports car. The real V12 Vanquish displayed a carbon fiber and aluminum chassis that was years ahead of its time, housing a naturally aspirated 460-horsepower V12 engine that could propel the car to 190 mph.
Every Aston Martin in James Bond Explained | WIRED by WIRED
V12 Vanquish (2001–2007) (Cont.)
The Aston Martin V12 Vanquish was hand-built at the Newport Pagnell factory, taking about eight full weeks per car to complete. Well, the irony is delicious: while the movie version could disappear at will, finding a real one today requires serious detective work.
DBS V12 (2007–2012)
The sound of screeching tires, seven complete barrel rolls, and a Guinness World Record being born. Yup, that's how Daniel Craig's Bond era announced itself in 2006's Casino Royale. What started as a simple swerve-and-roll stunt required increasingly desperate measures.
Aston Martin DBS Manual from James Bond Casino Royale!!! by HWM Aston Martin
DBS V12 (2007–2012) (Cont.)
After the first DBS refused to cooperate even with an 18-inch ramp at 70 mph, the crew installed a nitrogen-powered ram that punched the tarmac at precisely the right moment. The result was seven complete rotations at 75 mph, with stunt driver Adam Kirley walking away unharmed.
2009 Aston Martin DBS - The V12 Manual from Casino Royale (POV Binaural Audio) by Tedward
DB10 (2015)
Exclusivity doesn't get much more exclusive than this. Only ten DB10s were ever built, and just one was sold to the public for $3.2 million at auction. The other nine were either destroyed during the filming of Spectre or retained by Aston Martin.
IN-DEPTH LOOK: Aston Martin DB10 from SPECTRE - Walkaround, Onboard Ride by Shmee150
DB10 (2015) (Cont.)
The DB10 wasn't even meant to be a production car—it was built purely to celebrate 50 years of Bond-Aston Martin partnership. This masterpiece is driven by a naturally aspirated 4.7-liter AM14 V8 engine, cranking out around 430 horsepower and 490 Nm (361 lb-ft) of torque.
Shelby Asistio from Los Angeles, United States, Wikimedia Commons
Valhalla (2022–Present)
While other Bond cars have starred in epic chase sequences, the Valhalla's role in No Time to Die was more of a tantalizing cameo. Talk about Aston Martin showing off their most ambitious project yet, a Formula 1-inspired mid-engine hybrid that produces a staggering 1,064 horsepower.
Finding James Bond’s hypercar in Dubai | Aston Martin Valhalla by Esquire Middle East
Valhalla (2022–Present) (Cont.)
The Valhalla has forward-hinged dihedral doors, a sleek roof scoop, concealed cooling ducts, and a minimalist yet functional cockpit interior, all highlighted by carbon fiber construction. Alongside this, a rectangular F1-inspired steering wheel with integrated controls and driver-focused digital displays is also available.
Valhalla (2022–Present) (Cont.)
Its electric motors enable torque vectoring, regenerative braking, EV-only driving modes with speeds of up to 130 km/h (81 mph) and a zero-emission range of about 15 km. A plug-in hybrid system combines a bespoke 4.0-liter twin-turbo flat-plane crank V8 engine generating approximately 828 hp.
Every Aston Martin in James Bond Explained | WIRED by WIRED
Aston Martin DBS Superleggera
The DBS Superleggera features advanced torque vectoring, a mechanical limited-slip differential, and an aerodynamic package that includes Aston Martin's Aeroblade system. The machine showcases an F1-inspired double diffuser producing up to 180 kg (397 lb) of downforce for superior track and road handling.
Aston Martin DBS Superleggera: Mountains Of Torque - Carfection (4K) by Carfection
Aston Martin DBS Superleggera (Cont.)
Extensive use of carbon fiber reduces its weight to about 1,693 kg (3,732 lbs). The automobile also comes with a bold front bumper with enhanced cooling, side air extractors, and vents on the hood to manage engine temperature efficiently.
Calreyn88, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
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