AS WITH most things Bond, this is a very personal choice and probably comes down to when you started watching the films. If I tell you my favourite Bond is Roger Moore, you will not be surprised to see my favourite car also comes with a hefty slic
e of 1980 cheese.
LOTUS ESPRIT S1 – The Spy Who Loved Me In The Spy Who Loved Me, Roger Moore seemingly takes leave of his senses to drive his sleek white Esprit off the edge of a pier and into the sea. Once under the waves, though, the wheels fold in and small fins appear from behind them, transforming the car into a functioning submarine, replete with surface-to-air missiles, depth-charges and torpedoes.
All of the above are put to good use before Bond casually drives back out of the sea on to a crowded beach full of stunned sunbathers. The Lotus Esprit S1 is such a stunning piece of machinery – and, let's face it, who wouldn't want a car that could turn into a submarine at the flick of a switch?
ASTON MARTIN DB5 – Goldfinger The Aston Martin is, for many, the classic James Bond car. It certainly had some classic tricks up its bonnet. Smoke screens, oil slicks, tyre-cutters – and, of course, the original ejector seat. Sean Connery had a memorable game of cat-and-mouse with a Ford Mustang in the Swiss Alps. This is the toy car we all had, broke and lost, as kids. It would take something special to beat it.
ASTON MARTIN V8 VANTAGE – The Living Daylights Far be it from me to suggest Q got carried away with his gadgetry, but this British Racing Green beauty had skis and a jet-propelled engine to escape the bad guys, not to mention a 'police car slicing' side-mounted laser beam – all optional extras, no doubt.
CITROEN 2CV – For Your Eyes Only OK, not your obvious choice for the suave and sophisticated Mr Bond, with no Q-inspired gadgets, although the ability to roll down hills comes in very handy. JB is chased down a hillside, and the 2CV saves the day with some very Herbie-esque thrills and spills.
ASTON MARTIN VANQUISH – Die Another Day This is a pure muscle car, big and brash, but as with all 007 cars, packed with gadgets – and firepower. Not only did the 2002 Vanquish have missile launchers, machine guns and an ejector seat – but also the power of invisibility – eat your heart out, Harry Potter.
