007s And Their Aston Martins

Guest writer, SUE, indulges in a recollection of her favourite suave men and their cars. Don’t you just love 007 movies? I do, especially with Sir Sean Connery in it. It’s not just his good looks and the voice, but I also love his rides. My second pick is none other than Pierce Brosnan, a charming, yummy looking Irish gentleman with his awesome Aston Martin V12. I still have chills thinking about him. And finally, blue-eyed Daniel Craig *swoon*. How can anyone not fall for the rugged baby blue-eyed hero with the return of Aston Martin’s classic DB5 in Skyfall. So, without further ado, here are my favourite 007 heroes and their beautiful Aston Martins. I first watched 1964’s Goldfinger, the third film in the James Bond series with my dad’s VCR some 15 years ago, and he told me that this is Bond’s new car, the Aston Martin DB5. I of course didn’t know then what it truly meant except that Bond looked good in his car. Apparently this is also the start of a relationship between Bond and his Aston Martins, which spanned 11 Bond films and nearly 50 years of cinema history. Bond’s gadget Laden DB5 returned in 1965’s Thunderball with the DB5 further enhanced from Goldfinger, equipped with a rear facing water cannon and a boot-stowed jetpack. The cars used in the film were the same as those used in Goldfinger, the DP216/1 (modified) and DB5/1486/R which were used for road and close up sequences. In his first and only time cast as James Bond, George Lazenby shared the limelight with a new lead when the Aston Martin DBS was chosen to appear in the 1969 film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Introduced in 1967, the DBS initially used the same 6 cylinder engine as the DB6 until the DBS V8 was launched in 1970. 1987 saw the debut of Timothy Dalton accompanied by the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, which saw ther car return to the big screen after more than a 20 year hiatus. Supplied to the producers personally by Aston Martin’s Chairman, Victor Gauntlett, the film featured both Volante and Coupe versions of the car, customised with obligatory gadgets, including outriggers and tyre spikes.

In 1995, Pierce Brosnan began his term as James Bond in spectacular style as the iconic Aston Martin DB5 returned in an exhilarating car chase involving Bonds’s DB5 and Xenia Onatopp’s Ferrari F355.   Pierce Brosnan became the first James Bond to drive two different Aston Martins as the Aston Martin V12 Vanquish roared onto the screen in the 2002 film Die Another Day.   Daniel Craig’s 2006 Bond debut in Casino Royale also saw a new Aston Martin unveiled to the world – the DBS. In addition to the DBS, the Aston Martin DB5 made an additional special appearance, making Casino Royale the first film to feature 2 Aston Martin models.   Bond’s Aston Martin DBS featured in one of the most memorable moments of the film as a high speed accident, whereby the car had to flip and roll 7 times, a new world record. Wow. The sequence was filmed on the Millbrook Proving Ground with a modified DB9, because filming took place before the DBS was finished filming. Just for your information, Millbrook Proving Ground is also one of the largest vehicle testing centres in Europe located in Bedfordshire, England. Following the high speed action sequence in Casino Royale, Daniel Craig’s second James Bond appearance in 2008 Quantum of Solace saw the Aston Martin DBS return at the opening of the film in a high speed chase. Last but not least, released on 25 October 2012, Skyfall was Bond’s 23rd film, with the Aston Martin DB5 returning for its 6th appearance in one of the most eagerly anticipated films of the year. Nearly 50 years after its screen debut in 1964, the Aston Martin DB5 has left an indelible mark on popular culture. The first of 5 distinct Aston Martin models to be featured in James Bond films, DB5 continues to be celebrated as one of the most iconic cars ever produced. Alright then, time for me to hit the DVD player’s button now, and watch my heroes and their Aston Martins…yet again.