Along with the gadgets, girls, and gear, James Bond cars have taken on a distinct cultural life of their own. The trend arguably kicked off with the Aston Martin DB5, first driven by the famous superspy in 1964’s Goldfinger. More than an iconic Bond car, the DB5 is now one of the most famous vehicles in the annals of cinema. Maybe the added ejector seat and machine guns had something to do with it, though let’s be honest, it’s also just one heck of a great ride.
Table of contents
- Aston Martin
- The Best of the Rest (In Order of Year)
- 7. 1961 Sunbeam Alpine Series II
- 8. 1935 Bentley Mark IV Drophead 3.5 Litre
- 9. 1967 Toyota 2000 GT
- 10. 1969 Mercury Cougar XR-7
- 11. 1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1
- 12. 1974 AMC Hornet X Hatchback
- 13. 1977 Lotus Esprit S1
- 14. 1981 Lotus Esprit Turbo
- 15. Citroën 2CV
- 16. Bajaj RE
- 17. Renault 11 Taxi
- 18. 1962 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud II
- 19. 1995 BMW Z3
- 20. 1997 BMW 750iL
- 21. 1999 BMW Z8
- 22. 1957 Ford Fairlane
- 23. 2020 Land Rover Defender (New)
- 24. 2020 Range Rover Sport SVR
- General FAQ
Of course, the DB5 is but one amongst a slew of seminal James Bond cars, most of which have been decked out with gadgets and put through the wringer over the course of numerous decades. With No Time to Die finally arriving in theatres, we figured now was the perfect time to run the full gamut of these franchise stalwarts. By the way, the latest 007 instalment features no less than nine classic cars (and one bike), including four Aston Martins and a Land Rover Defender.
Go big or go home, as the saying goes, and this franchise definitely goes big. Here to prove it is a simply massive list of iconic James Bond vehicles. Many can be purchased for personal use, though you’ll have to add the ejector seat on your own. Now, just to be clear, we’ve focused on the cars 007 actually drove, so while the 1998 Jaguar XKR from Die Another Day was undeniably awesome, it wouldn’t necessarily fit the bill for a Bond car. Instead, these are the iconic street machines that 007 flipped, sped and corkscrew jumped (looking at Man with the Golden Gun) through cinema history over the past nearly 60 years.
Aston Martin
When it comes to James Bond cars, Aston Martin is king. Here are all the models that have appeared in the franchise with Agent 007 behind the wheel.
1. 1964 Aston Martin DB5
The one, the only: Aston Martin DB5. More or less brand new when it first appeared in Goldfinger, the British luxury grand tourer (GT) returned for a number of follow-up instalments. Fun fact: in the original novel, Bond drove a DB Mark III, but producers decided to go with something a little fresher off the factory line. The DB5 has been the most famous James Bond vehicle—and one of history’s most famous movie cars—ever since.
First appeared: Goldfinger (1964)
Later appeared: Thunderball (1965), Goldeneye (1995), Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), Casino Royale (2006), Skyfall (2012), Spectre (2015), No Time to Die (2021)
Brand: Aston Martin
Engine: DOHC Straight-6, 4.0 L (3,995 cc)
Power output: 282–325 bhp (210–242 kW) @ 5500 rpm, 280–288 lb⋅ft (380–390 N⋅m) @ 4500 rpm
Transmission: 5-speed ZF box or optional BorgWarner 3-speed automatic
Gadgets: Rotating number plates, 303 Browning machine guns behind the front parking lights, Smoke-screen unit, Oil ejecting device, Caltrops, Hydraulic bullet-proof steel plate, Bullet-proof windows, Extendable rams, Passenger ejector seat, Water cannons, Colour fax, Champagne refrigerator, M134 minigun behind the headlights, Mines dispensed under the rear bumper
2. 1969 Aston Martin DBS
With the introduction of a new Bond in 1968 came a new Aston Martin DBS for him to drive. The actor was George Lazenby, who delivered a sole performance as Agent 007 in the fan favourite On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. The Bond car plays a pivotal role throughout the film, appearing during some of its most crucial scenes (including the beginning and ending). It would also make a brief appearance in the subsequent outing Diamonds are Forever, where it’s getting equipped with missiles inside Q’s lab. By the way, you can currently buy a new 2022 Aston Martin DBS for just over US$300,000.
First appeared: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1968)
Later appeared: Diamonds are Forever (1971)
Brand: Aston Martin
Engine: 4.0 L DOHC I6
Transmission: Borg-Warner automatic or ZF 5-speed manual or Chrysler 3-speed automatic transmission
Gadgets: Telescopic riffle in a secret room in the glove compartment.
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3. 1985 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante
For Timothy Dalton’s debut as Bond in 1987’s The Living Daylights, the franchise brought Aston Martin back into the fold after a long absence. Whilst visually similar to the DBS from “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service,” the V8 Vantage Volante was more akin to the original DB5 from Goldfinger in terms of pure gadgetry. Added features included lasers, missiles, tyre spikes, outriggers, all-band police radio receiver, self-destruct timer, missile guidance display, and a rocket propulsion system. An Aston Martin V8 Saloon appears in No Time to Die as a callback to Dalton’s Bond car from 1987.
Appeared in: The Living Daylights (1987)
Brand: Aston Martin
Engine: 5.3 L V8
Transmission: ZF 5-speed manual all-synchromesh, 3-speed Chrysler automatic
Gadgets: Rocket booster, Steel spikes, Rockets behind the fog lamps, Wheel-mounted laser, Bulletproof glass, Selfdestruct.
4. 2002 Aston Martin V12 Vanquish
Barring Halle Berry’s turn as Giacinta “Jinx” Johnson, the 2002 outing Die Another Day has all but vanished from our collective memories. That’s rather fitting because the Aston Martin V12 Vanquish performs a similar act in the film. Thanks to an invisibility cloak, the Bond car has the power to disappear from sight. Monty Python alum John Cleese plays Q and introduces the vehicle and its ridiculous feature, making the concept silly on all fronts. The car does engage in an epic chase sequence, however, during which a foe uses thermal imaging to track its location.
Appeared in: Die Another Day (2002)
Brand: Aston Martin
Engine: 5,935 cc (5.9 L; 362.2 cu in) V12
Transmission: 6-speed automated manual, 6-speed manual
Gadgets: Missiles, Autotargeting machineguns, Ejector seat, Literally invisible
5. 2006 Aston Martin DBS V12
The 2006 prequel/reboot Casino Royale was both more stylish and more grounded than its predecessors, with Daniel Craig anchoring these tonalities to seamless effect. His Aston Martin DBS V12 followed suit, eschewing outrageous gadgetry in favour of just two hidden compartments. One held a medical kit and defibrillator and the other a silenced Walther PPK. The DBS name was in direct tribute to On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and the Bond car from that film. Now running on a V12 engine, it partakes in a high-speed car chase before flipping seven times in a momentous crash.
First appeared: Casino Royale (2006)
Later appeared: Quantum of Solace (2008)
Brand: Aston Martin
Engine: 5.9 L AM11 V12
Transmission: 6-speed ZF 6HP26 (Touchtronic II) automatic, 6-speed Graziano manual
Gadgets: Defibriliator, Walther P99 handgun with silencer and magazine
6. 2020 Aston Martin DBS Superleggera
Aston Martin’s DBS returns for the latest instalment, which also features a DB5, V8 Vantage, and Valhalla. If the trailers are anything to go by, Bond cohort Nomi (played by Lashana Lynch) drives the swanky and sporty DBS Superleggera.
Appeared in: No Time to Die (2021)
Brand: Aston Martin
Engine: 5.2 L Aston Martin AE31 twin-turbocharged V12
Transmission: 8-speed ZF 8HP95 automatic
The Best of the Rest (In Order of Year)
James Bond is usually driving something sweet and it’s not always an Aston Martin. In chronological order, here’s the best of the rest:
7. 1961 Sunbeam Alpine Series II
We all have to start somewhere and for James Bond, that somewhere was the Sunbeam Alpine Series II. Sean Connery took the vehicle on a dangerous cliffside chase in Dr. No, the franchise’s debut entry. British made, it was reportedly borrowed from a nearby local for the film shoot so as to avoid importing costs.
Appeared in: Dr. No (1962)
Manufacturer: Rootes Group
Production: 1953–75
Assembly: Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Warwickshire, England
Engine: 2267 cc (2.3L) I4
8. 1935 Bentley Mark IV Drophead 3.5 Litre
Bentley’s Mark IV convertible was nearly three decades old by the time it appeared in the second Bond film, making it an oddball of sorts. However, the British spy does drive a Bentley in a number of the original novels, which helps explain its inclusion here.
Appeared in: From Russia with Love (1963)
Manufacturer: Bentley Motors (1931) Limited Derby, Derbyshire
Production: 1933–1939, 2411 produced
Assembly: Derby, England chassis only
Engine: 3½ L I6, 4¼ L I6
Transmission: 4-speed manual
9. 1967 Toyota 2000 GT
James Bond went to Japan for the 1967 instalment You Only Live Twice and equipped himself with that nation’s first official (and extremely limited) supercar. Originally a hardtop, the GT’s roof was modified as an open-top to accommodate Connery’s height.
Appeared in: You Only Live Twice (1967)
Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation and Yamaha Motor Corporation (joint project)
Production: 1967–1970 (351 produced)
Assembly: Japan: Iwata, Shizuoka (Yamaha Motors)
Designer: Jiro Kono, Satoru Nozaki
Engine: Gasoline 2.0 L 3M DOHC I6 (MF10), 2.3 L 2M-B SOHC I6 (MF12)
Power output: 150 PS (148 hp; 110 kW) (3M)
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Gadgets: Miniature closed-circuit colour television reciever, Voice-controlled tape recorder, Cameras behind the front and rear license plates.
10. 1969 Mercury Cougar XR-7
Bond’s wife Tracy Di Vicenzo proves herself a force behind the wheel in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, navigating her red Mercury Cougar through all kinds of perilous terrain.
Appeared in: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1968)
Brand: Mercury
Engine: 427 cu in (7.0 L) FE V8
Transmission: 4-speed manual
11. 1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1
Sean Connery reprised the role of Agent 007 for 1971’s Diamonds are Forever, in which he takes a Ford Mustang on an iconic chase through the Las Vegas strip.
Appeared in: Diamonds are Forever (1971)
Brand: Ford
Engine: 28 cu in (7.0 L) CJ/SCJ V8
Transmission: 3-speed automatic
12. 1974 AMC Hornet X Hatchback
A nifty stunt—during which Bond’s car does a 360-degree flip over a river—may be the one thing most viewers remember from The Man with the Golden Gun. And for that reason alone, the AMC Hornet X Hatchback remains the stuff of legend.
Appeared in: The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
Brand: AMC
Transmission: 3-speed “Torque-Command” automatic
13. 1977 Lotus Esprit S1
Whenever a new actor tackles the role of Bond, audiences can expect at least a few new surprises. For Roger Moore’s debut as Agent 007, one of those surprises came in the form of a white Lotus Espirit S1. It touted Transformer-like abilities by going from car to mini-submarine back to car during an epic chase sequence.
Appeared in: The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
Brand: Lotus
Designer: Giorgetto Giugiaro at Italdesign Giugiaro
Engine: 2.0 L (1,973 cc) type 907 I4
Transmission: 5-speed Citroën C35 manual
Gadgets: Transforms into submarine, Periscope, Torpedoes, Surface-to-air missile
14. 1981 Lotus Esprit Turbo
Ever-devoted to its fanbase, the franchise brought back James Bond’s Lotus for the next Roger Moore outing, For Your Eyes Only. Rather than undergo another chase (and thus repeat itself), the car self-destructs and takes a henchman out in the process.
Appeared in: For Your Eyes Only (1981)
Brand: Lotus
Engine: 2.2 L (2,174 cc) type 912 I4
Transmission 5-speed Citroën C35 manual
15. Citroën 2CV
With his Lotus out of commission, Bond and Melina Havelock flee from bad guys in her Citroën 2CV. The car isn’t exactly up to the spy’s standards, giving way to a humorous chase scene.
Appeared in: For Your Eyes Only (1981)
Brand: Citroën
Designer: André Lefèbvre, Flaminio Bertoni, Walter Becchia, Marcel Chinon
Engine: 375 cc H2 air-cooled 9 hp (7 kW).
Transmission: 4-speed manual
16. Bajaj RE
Only in the James Bond franchise would a Tuk Tuk taxi called the Bajaj RE get the Q-branch treatment, thus hopping onto two wheels for a dangerous chase. Fellow agent Vijay—played by a tennis pro—handles the driving and even incorporates some racket skills.
Appeared in: Octopussy (1983)
17. Renault 11 Taxi
The taxi theme continued into the next Bond film (and the last to star Roger Moore), 1985’s A View to a Kill. In pursuit of henchwoman May Day, 007 basically hijacks a Renault taxi and takes it through a number of major stunts.
Appeared in: A View to a Kill (1985)
Brand: Renault
Engine: Front-mounted traverse 4-cyl. Garrett turbocharger
Power: 105 bph (77kW) at 5500 rmp
Transmission: Front-wheel drive, 5-speed manual gearbox
18. 1962 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud II
Producer Albert R. Broccoli (aka Cubby Broccoli) lent his personal Rolls Royce to the franchise on two separate occasions. It plays more of a prominent role in A View to a Kill, plunging into a lake with MI6 agent Sir Godfrey Tibbett still inside. And before you ask: a stunt vehicle was used for the underwater sequence.
Appeared in: A View to a Kill (1985)
Also appeared in: Thunderball (1965)
Brand: Rolls Royce
Engine: 4887 cc, 6 Cyl
Power: 134,2 kw (180 bhp) at 4000 rpm
19. 1995 BMW Z3
Anything from BMW might seem like a no-brainer for a James Bond car, but the automaker didn’t join the franchise until 1995’s Goldeneye. The model was a Z3 and it came fully loaded with all sorts of gadgetry, including an ejector seat, all-points radar, and stinger missiles.
Appeared in: Goldeneye (1995)
Brand: BMW
Engine: 1895cc, four cylinder, 140 bhp
Top speed: 127 mph
Gadgets: Bullet proof, Parachute braking system, Stinger missiles, Satellite downling capabilities
20. 1997 BMW 750iL
During the first half of the Pierce Brosnan era, BMW was Jame Bond’s carmaker of choice. In Tomorrow Never Dies, his 750iL goes all out on the gadgetry, featuring bulletproof windows, electrifying door handles, roof-mounted missiles, tyre spikes, and more. As a sign of the times, the Bond car could also be controlled via mobile phone.
Appeared in: Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
Brand: BMW
Engine: 5.4 litre SOHC EFI V12
Transmission: 5 speed transmission ATC
Gadgets: Bulletproof windows., Dent-resistant exterior., Voice-assisted GPS navigation system., Self-inflating tires, Missiles in the sunroof, Wire cutter, Caltrops dispenser, Forward firing machine guns, remote control
21. 1999 BMW Z8
The partnership between BMW and the Bond franchise ended in 1999 with The World is Not Enough. His mighty Z8 features titanium armour coating and built-in missile controls, amongst other things.
Appeared in: The World is Not Enough (1999)
Brand: BMW
Engine: 5 litre V8 engine
Power: 400 bhp
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Gadgets: Rockets, Remote control, Autonomous driving, Titanium plating and armour
22. 1957 Ford Fairlane
A vintage Ford Fairlane makes a brief appearance in 2002’s Die Another Day, heeding (or perhaps undermining) Bond’s request for a “fast car.”
Appeared in: Die Another Day (2002)
Brand: Ford
Engine: 312 CID (5.1 L) T-bird V8 (1957)
Transmission: 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic automatic
23. 2020 Land Rover Defender (New)
Not only does a new Land Rover Defender appear in the latest Bond film, but the automaker is currently offering a Defender V8 Bond Edition for hardcore fans of the franchise or SUVs or both. It’s ultra-tough by design, effortlessly stylish, and limited to just 300 units. There’s no time to get one like the present (see what we did there?).
Appeared in: No Time to Die (2021)
Brand: Land Rover
Engine: supercharged, turbocharged, and intercooled inline-6; aluminium block and head, direct fuel injection
Power: 395 hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque: 406 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
24. 2020 Range Rover Sport SVR
A behind-the-scenes featurette for No Time to Die lent new meaning to the concept of off-roading. In the showreel, a Range Rover Sport SVR slides through mud and tumbles down an embankment before veering off a rockface and then flying in mid-air. It’s apparently one of the many expensive vehicles to get absolutely demolished in the film. We’d expect nothing less.
Appeared in: No Time to Die (2021)
Brand: Land Rover
Engine: supercharged, turbocharged, and intercooled inline-6; aluminium block and head, direct fuel injection
Power: 395 hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque: 406 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
You’ll also like:
A Complete List of All James Bond 007 Watches
29 Best James Bond Gadgets
A Look at Every Single Bond Girl Through Time
General FAQ
Playing James Bond for the first time, Sean Connery drives a Sunbeam Alpine Series II in Dr. No.
The Bond franchise is no stranger to a number of classic and iconic cars. However, 007's signature car remains the Aston Martin DB5, which has appeared in a number of films.
To our knowledge, James Bond has never driven a Mazda. Why do you ask?
