After the end of Daniel Craig’s career as the monk-like, world-weary James Bond in No Time to Die in 2021, Aaron Taylor-Johnson is rumored to step up as the newest 007 to continue where Craig left off.
While we wait for the next Bond, no conversation about the famous secret agent would be complete without discussing the lineup of classic cars that have accompanied his career from then until now.
1964 Aston Martin DB5
No vehicle epitomizes the James Bond series better than the 1964 Aston Martin DB5. First appearing in brand-new condition in Goldfinger, the car went on to appear in several other films such as Goldeneye, Skyfall, and No Time to Die. Considering how classic the Aston Martin DB5 is, it has become one of the most famous cars in cinema history.
1935 Bentley 3 ½ Liter
Although seemingly forgotten by time, the 1935 Bentley 3 ½ Liter was actually the first car Bond ever owned. First appearing in From Russia With Love, it was the first Q Branch vehicle Bond owned with all the gadgets for his job. Given that Bentley was Bond creator Ian Fleming’s favorite car brand, it’s no surprise that this car appeared when the novel series hit the screen.
1981 Citroën 2CV6
While not exactly for high-risk assignments, the 1981 Citroën 2CV6 is one of the classic cars owned by Melina Havelock, Bond’s love interest in For Your Eyes Only. Although it only has a two-cylinder boxer with less than 30 hp, it has mild off-roading capabilities that are useful in certain situations. With its unimposing design, the French compact also makes more appearances in the series’ calmer scenes.
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air
The 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air was one of the first cars Bond drove in his decades of spy-related stints. Only appearing in Dr. No, a chauffeur (an undercover hitman) picks up the British spy from the airport in the early minutes of this 1962 classic. After a brief fight, Bond manages to snatch the convertible (although he has never used the classic Chevrolet since).
1961 Sunbeam Alpine
If the Chevrolet in the previous entry was a car snatched from someone else, the 1961 Sunbeam Alpine was officially Bond’s first car. A far cry from the sophisticated cars of later films, the Sunbeam Alpine only had a top speed of 100 mph due to its four-cylinder engine. Even so, this classic managed to repeatedly save Bond in the adrenaline-pumping scenes in Dr. No.
1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1
When Connery resumed his role as Bond in “Diamonds Are Forever,” this Ford Mustang was Bond’s getaway vehicle on his escape through the Sin City. Despite the escape scene’s fame, a continuity error where the car escapes from an alleyway with its left wheels after entering it with its right wheels is a mistake any classic car enthusiast would find hard to forgive.
1974 AMC Hornet X Hatchback
The James Bond series is no stranger to awe-inspiring stunts, such as the 360-degree flip over a river that Bond performed in a 1974 AMC Hornet X Hatchback. This iconic scene – which involved six or eight stunt attempts – used an AMC Hornet with 14×6 inch Cragar S/S wheels that were supervised by a security team to prevent the car from being damaged during filming.
Mercedes-Benz 250SE
Although a rarity, the Mercedes-Benz 250SE is an entry from the classic German car brand that left quite an impression on Octopussy viewers. As Soviet General Orlov’s staff car, Bond steals this classic Mercedes-Benz to chase the Octopussy train in a chase that ends with all the tires destroyed by a roadblock.
Conclusion
While the next James Bond film entry is still a few years away, it might be time for classic car enthusiasts to guess which car will appear next in this genre-defining series. For Canadian fans of classic cars and James Bond, playing at popular bitcoin and crypto casinos in Canada could be the place to experience when Bond visits world gambling centers like Las Vegas and Monte Carlo.
