Ideal Car for Bond.
0013
Scotland ukPosts: 46MI6 Agent
I liked the idea of the Silver Beast SAAB 900 turbo. And the modern counterpart for that , in my eyes is The new Audi TT.
Not the old design which looks like a squashed VW Beetle. I think it's lines suit a more realistic Bond. Because those Aston Martins aint cheap.
But if he must have something sporty, but not super-duper, no way in hell could you afford it. The Audi R8.
My propsed Bond novel I had him use one and switched him to the PPS.
I may get pelters for those choices
Whats your thoughts?
0013
Not the old design which looks like a squashed VW Beetle. I think it's lines suit a more realistic Bond. Because those Aston Martins aint cheap.
But if he must have something sporty, but not super-duper, no way in hell could you afford it. The Audi R8.
My propsed Bond novel I had him use one and switched him to the PPS.
I may get pelters for those choices
Whats your thoughts?
0013
Comments
http://apbateman.com
What is it that makes a Bond car a Bond car?
Besides a contract with Eon?
I recently bought a BMW M3 coupe (E90). 4 litre V8. 420BHP. 0-60 in 4.8 secs. Limited to 155mph, but easily derestricted to 190mph. It looks good, goes like hell (certainly quicker than Aston DB7 3.2, Jaguar XKR, Porsche 911 (993) - all of which I have previously owned) - but here come the compromises: I wanted something that I considered very cool, and very fast. But I also needed (for my business) something new, fairly economical and something reliable. For my family I needed a big boot, Isofix child seat preparation, decent rear seats and rear seat leg room, as safe a car as possible, total reliability. I have one car for myself and one for my wife - she has an off-roader so my compromises are not as much as most men with a wife and two children, but nevertheless it was a series of compromises that drove me toward the new M3.
Now, this is the Bond bit. Bond should never compromise. He doesn't need child seats, rear leg room, EU emmissions off-set for business owners, a large boot (though large enough for a member of Quantum is useful), airbags everywhere, MP3/USB port and Bluetooth connectivity. He needs somewhere to put his Walther P99 or H&K machine gun, somewhere to chill a bottle of Bollinger, a huge engine with next to no fuel economy, tyre shredders, oil slick, revolving number plates and yes, and ejector seat would be nice as well. He needs a brand new or classic Aston Martin, a Bentley - something outrageously untouchable for most of us. A fantasy. Because that is what Bond is...
http://apbateman.com
Ah well, if it works, why change it?
http://www.carforums.net/reviews/makes/pictures/morgan08.jpg
It looks very 1930/40's in style but guess the year?
http://apbateman.com
Quite!! Bond would not shop at Morrisons.
Fortnum & Masons.
This thread although light hearted does expose another more serious area; that of Bond and class. Up until the casting of Craig Bond has pretty much followed a post war British model of class. Bond is a Naval Officer, with a small private income and educated in the British Public school system. He would of shopped at Fortnum's, or at least his Scottish Housekeeper (May) would have. A Bentley, albeit an old one made perfect sense.
However in the early 21st Century much of this is an anachrosism. The updating of the character throws many of the past Bluprint into question. In CR his Public School background is acknowledged, but there is a much more modern conception. For example a Housekeeper for Daniel's Bond is unthinkable. He is much more a man of today and as such a mid-high end but primarily 'ordinary' car would be more in keeping. I think he would go for the new Jaguar sport, or an older classic performance vehicle.
http://apbateman.com
I'm sure Germany's influence over Bentley would change Fleming's mind, it's the Britishness of Bond he brought through in his writing, and probably what we all like about Bond himself.
The XK is a great car, and one of the best looking ever made, in my opinion (I'm not so keen on the new model though - but I'm sure it will grow on me) and certainly the best alternative car for Bond if he lost his Aston's keys.
http://apbateman.com
While it's obviously not brand-new, it exudes a certain class befitting of an old king. One look around Google Images shows that no matter what year it is, a Jaguar always looks great; definitively British, as well.
It's the epitome of class in my opinion, while still not being unrealistic. The perfect Bond car of today.
http://apbateman.com
As far as I'm aware, a rather iconic and highly regarded early Connery film in which Bond plays golf with a rather famous villain.
Anyway, Bond was originally meant to have a Jag in TND.
I think my statement rather belies it's obvious that I know Bond is a golfer, and that mrbond does not. Yes, one film and many more references in many novels. And the reference to the XK/XKR's being designed to fit two sets of golf clubs was rubbish. (Jeremy Clarkson - Top Gear- circa '96) it's boot is no bigger or smaller than that of any front engined V8 GT car. With all that bonnet it needed some counter-balence on its rear, and all GT cars, including Astons have pretty good luggage space in the boot.
http://apbateman.com
I don't see how "too much" cargo space would be a problem for a spy, anyway. I'm sure Bond would put that space to good use (a nice temporary hiding spot for a pesty henchman
...On a side note, according to Wikipedia, the Esprit was originally set to be named the Kiwi... I wonder if it would have still been a Bond car if it had been named as such.