60 Years of James Bond and Aston Martin: Celebrating the Longest Automotive Relationship in Hollywood
There’s no more instantly recognizable duo: a tuxedo-clad 007 climbing out of a silver grand tourer (GT) in front of a fabulous hotel or casino. Across actors and stories, James Bond and Aston Martin have a deep-seated automotive relationship that spans all the way back to 1964. In fact, 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of Eon canon James Bond films and the character’s GT car companions.
60 years of James Bond and Aston Martin means many, many different models
“You must be joking.” Sean Connery famously inquires whether Desmond Llewelyn, “Q,” is jesting about including an ejector seat in James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 in the 1964 film “Goldfinger.” Llewelyn responds with one of the character’s most quotable responses: “I never joke about my work.”
And joke he didn’t. The fictitious MI6 quartermaster equipped 007’s trusty GT cars with everything from oil slicks to ejector seats to machine guns over the years. However, beyond the films’ silly gadgetry and spectacular stunts, each model is a handsome setpiece. It started with the 1964 DB5, a perennial mount for the British superspy. However, it certainly isn’t the only Aston Martin in the Eon canon films.
- 1964 DB5
- 1969 DBS
- 1985 V8 Vantage Volante
- 2002 V12 Vanquish
- 2006 DBS V12
- DB10 Concept
- 2020 DBS Superleggera
- Valhalla
However, the DB5 is certainly the franchise’s most beloved four-wheeled institution, akin to Bond’s affinity for the Walther PPK. The musical GT car returned in the first Brosnan film and several times during Daniel Craig’s time as 007. That said, Craig’s tenure revealed the most significant diversity of the British marque’s offerings. Throughout his five 007 movies, Craig drove everything from classic Astons to a concept DB10 in a fiery Rome chase with Dave Bautista in a stunning Jaguar C-X75.
Of course, James Bond didn’t drive Aston Martins exclusively. Roger Moore sank beneath the waves in a Lotus Esprit that turned into a submarine. What’s more, the Pierce Brosnan era included a handful of BMWs, from the baby-blue Z3 in “Goldeneye” to the striking Z8 in “The World Is Not Enough.” Still, Brosnan’s tenure ended with a V12 Vanquish and one of the best car chases in the franchise.
