Suggestions for starting a Bond car collection

AndrewBond

Hello Bond-fans! So, I’ve got zero Bond cars at the moment - in fact I’m not really a Bond collector at all other than the films and books. I’d quite like to start a small Bond car collection and wondered if anybody had suggestions on where I might start.

I don’t have silly money to spend, and it would be a collection for enjoyment rather than investment, so I don’t really mind if the suggestions are for ‘prizeded’ models or just ‘mass market’ stuff, similarly I don’t mind if the suggestions are for new or more vintage models, but I would like to think that the models are decent and accurate quality and not overpriced tat.

I’m a particular fan of the TSWLM Lotus, but like the other ‘memorable’ vehicles such as Aston Martin DB5, Little Nellie, Moonraker shuttle etc. From quick looks around eBay I’m guessing Corgi is probably a likely route, but wondered what you all think?

Any contributions gratefully received!

The Red Kind

I would say first and foremost, decide what scale you would like to collect, providing of course you want all your vehicles to be the same scale. I personally collect 1:18 scale (cars only) as I like the larger size, level of detail and presence on the shelf. However, they do take up considerably more space!! And a few models of Bond cars are not available in this scale. 1:36 is a good size to collect, some makes are more detailed than others. Corgi are not always the most detailed or accurate for the Bond cars, with things like wheels being generic. Check out ebay for starters anyway and see what catches your eye. Enjoy beginning your collection! :007)

superado

The TSWLM Lotus as mentioned was done by AutoArt in 1/18th scale in both road and submarine version and a converting version, the best of both worlds, by Joyride, but these are usually expensive. Corgi’s 1/36 converting version has and will likely continue to be their standard offering and therefore readily available, though they made a sub version in a smaller scale, and a 1/43 white roadcar through their Vanguards series, though not the Bond car as the big difference are the license plates.

There are many bargains to be had on eBay of the James Bond Car Collection magazine subscription series and the similar Bond in Motion Collection by Eaglemoss of the Lotus in both road and sub versions in a diorama setting in 1/43 scale; you can find them “complete” with the magazine and the car, mint, in its clear plastic diorama packaging, or just the car/dio, or even just the loose car (it even has Bond and Anya figures sitting inside) and many of these loose but new specimens used to pop up on eBay from Chinese sellers at very cheap bargains even with shipping from China, but they are fewer nowadays.

Likewise, Minichamps has the road and sub versions in 1/43 scale with slightly better quality than rhe Eaglemoss diorama versions and I’ve seen bargains as well. Hotwheels released the road and sub versions in 1/64 scale, in standard Hot Wheels as well as Hollywood/James Bond packaging and there are bargains for both mint and loose versions. Hot Wheels also have the DB5 in standard and elite versions in 1/18 and also in 1/43 scale. In 1/64 scale, Johnny Lightning produced many of the Bond cars, but I personally think most of them are inferior to Hot Wheels (their TSWLM Lotus sucks!) with some exception like the DB5. The Johnny Lightning cars were even repackaged at some point under the Corgi brand, so I would advise staying away from 1/64 scale Corgis because they might be Johnny Lightning cars in disguise.

Of course, the brands I mentioned also have other Bond cars like Zao’s Jaguar, the DAF Mustang Mach 1, and YOLT Toyota in the different scales mentioned. Check out diecastdirect.com under “Licenses” then “James Bond” where there are some pretty good bargains.

Going back to the TSWLM Lotus, I have almost all the ones I mentioned, but I am very pleased with the 1/43 Minichamps roadcar version, which is the best of both worlds in quality and “play” value if one is inclined to roll it around on a desk with a throaty “vroooom” sound effect and I see bargains come up from time to time on eBay. If you’re a capable modeler like moi, I removed the Bond and Anya figures from my Eaglemoss Lotus and put them in my Minichamps Lotus, which is how it became my favorite version.

AndrewBond

Superado, The Red Kind thank you both very much for taking the time to reply, there’s some great suggestions there for me to start looking into, especially regarding that lovely TSWLM Lotus! I shall now spend many a happy hour on eBay looking up your suggestions and seeing what takes my fancy! I appreciate your help!

Out of interest could you (or anyone else) give me a rough idea what footprint a 1/18 Lotus takes up to give me an idea of what scale might be best for the space I have. Thanks again! -{

Bond Collectors' Weekends

AndrewBond wrote:

Hello Bond-fans! So, I’ve got zero Bond cars at the moment - in fact I’m not really a Bond collector at all other than the films and books. I’d quite like to start a small Bond car collection and wondered if anybody had suggestions on where I might start.

I don’t have silly money to spend, and it would be a collection for enjoyment rather than investment, so I don’t really mind if the suggestions are for ‘prizeded’ models or just ‘mass market’ stuff, similarly I don’t mind if the suggestions are for new or more vintage models, but I would like to think that the models are decent and accurate quality and not overpriced tat.

I’m a particular fan of the TSWLM Lotus, but like the other ‘memorable’ vehicles such as Aston Martin DB5, Little Nellie, Moonraker shuttle etc. From quick looks around eBay I’m guessing Corgi is probably a likely route, but wondered what you all think?

Any contributions gratefully received!

Even a subset of Bond like cars is VAST, with collectibles going back more than 50 years. Pick a sub-specialty and focus time and energy on that...

superado

AndrewBond wrote:

Out of interest could you (or anyone else) give me a rough idea what footprint a 1/18 Lotus takes up to give me an idea of what scale might be best for the space I have. Thanks again!   

I’m away on vacation so I can’t measure it myself, but online the Autoart 1/18 Lotus’ dimensions are 26cm by 9cm by 8cm (h). It’s I’d say “medium” as I have 1/18 scale cars that are smaller and bigger. The submarine version is harder to display because of the protruding fins, etc.

AndrewBond

Superado thanks so much - enjoy the rest of your vacation! {[]

superado

AndrewBond wrote:

Superado thanks so much - enjoy the rest of your vacation! {[]

You’re welcome, and thank you, AndrewBond!