James Bond special
007’s cars driven, tested, and bought
It seems even James Bond has met his match with 2020’s biggest villain, coronavirus. No Time To Die, the 25th instalment in the official movie franchise (there have been two unofficial efforts) was due to be released in April 2020, but was then put back to this month. And now fans have to wait until April of 2021 to see Daniel Craig’s fifth and final outing as 007. Fingers crossed even for that date.
What the trailers have revealed is that James Bond is quite a classic car fan. For as well as the inevitable Aston Martin DB5 and a Land Rover Series III, the Aston Martin V8 from The Living Daylights seems to have been resurrected – quite a feat given that Timothy Dalton saw it comprehensively blown to pieces in Communist-controlled Bratislava in 1987. Did they just give the bits back?
The V8 was descended from the DBS, introduced in 1967 and used by George Lazenby in the 1969 film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. So we’ve decided to treat ourselves to the best of all worlds; a 1972 Aston Martin DBS V8, with the Lazenby looks and the Dalton and Craig capabilities.
When the DBS broke cover in 1967, it was a complete break from its evolutionary DB4, DB5 and DB6 predecessors. Or, at least, it was meant to be. The muscular yet svelte lines were penned by William Towns, with more than a nod to the Ford Mustang. And, like that great American pony car, the British stallion was meant to have a V8 engine as well. Except Newport Pagnell’s one wasn’t ready – and so the DBS came out with the traditional six-cylinder unit instead. Not a bad thing… but in a heavier machine, not ideal either.
Nevertheless, the new DBS was ideal for introducing a new James Bond in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, when George Lazenby drove one. It was a clear sign that both 007 and Aston Martin were moving on from the past. Budding Bond-to-be Roger Moore also had a go in one in The Persuaders, although his was disguised as a V8 version and in a more, um, Moore-ish shade of Bahama Yellow, compared to Lazenby’s more subtle Olive Green example.
By 1969 though, the V8 engine was ready and was duly dropped into the bluff-fronted nose to create the DBS V8, accompanied by GKN alloy wheels, a front air dam and wing vent new badges. The V8 remained with the DBS-shaped model, through its subsequent developments, until production ended in 1989.
TIMEWARP CLASSIC
Our example here rolled off Newport Pagnell’s production line in March 1972. The left-hand drive car soon found itself in the USA where it stayed until April 2019, returning still completely original after just over 8000 miles. So, this is a timewarp car; almost exactly as it was when it left the factory.
Brown (or rather Burnt Almond) may not be the most inspiring of shades (although it was good enough for The Living Daylights’ car), but it is oh-so-very Seventies and more subtle, muted hues suit these substantial cars well. The distinct hints of Mustang are most apparent in the way the rear flanks kick up, but every bit of this car oozes attitude, presence and some menace. The grille enveloping the quad headlamps is arguably more striking and handsome than the more rotund-cheeked face of later cars. This isn’t a car that hides its potential; you can immediately tell it’s immensely fast and quite brutal with it.
Inside, it’s slightly surprising how little luxury there is. Not that
the cabin isn’t a cosseting and comfortable place, but it’s quite businesslike, although you do get indulged with plenty of gauges to keep you in the loop, set into a dash that echoes the shape of the grille.
There are seven arranged behind the DB-branded steering wheel; the big ‘uns being the 7000rpm rev counter and 200mph speedometer. There’s also an array of black switches clustered tightly together in the centre console that, after experiencing so many gadget-packed Bond films, you’re slightly afraid to play with – just in case you accidentally blow up some modern Audi ahead of you in the distance. Although that wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing…
INTO THE DISTANCE
Sat on the natural leather seats – and you do feel more sat on them rather than in them – the bonnet stretches far into the distance. This is a big car, and it feels it. Fortunately, visibility is generally good – a little compromised aft by the bulky back pillars, but up front and to the sides, you have a grand view of the scenery.
Turning the key elicits a big gulp from the front as the V8 inhales enough air into its considerable lungs to give life to its V8. Then there are two competing noise factions; a mechanical mish-mash from the front, a thunderous roar from the rear. Combined, it’s the sound of 320 horses waiting impatiently to romp from their stable.
However, some caution has to be exercised first. This car is on older tyres and it’s wise to find their limits before any Bondian drama. It’s fine at normal speeds, but V8 Aston Martins are usually about anything but normality. However, the three-speed automatic makes it easy to just gently ease away with the lightest of touches to the accelerator.
The DBS does docility remarkably well and, even with its oil still cold, the gearchanges are smooth and not blatantly obvious. Still, with a significant amount of torque, it doesn’t need to work that hard. Not yet, anyway.
A MAJOR AMOUNT OF POWER
As you become accustomed to the DBS, it does seem to shrink around you and take up less road space, feeling more like a true sports car. That encourages you to be a bit braver and, with a long, wide, straight section of road, it becomes apparent why James Bond felt perfectly happy bringing his example out of retirement for No Time To Die. There’s a major amount of power on tap and, once the tyres are properly warm, it’s all so easily unleashed by even the merest prod of your right foot. It seems to take little more than a few blinks of the eye before the Aston is going as fast as the law allows.
Despite the older rubber, the handling is quite sharp once the tyres are up to temperature, and the absence of real body roll is a welcome surprise. The more confident you become, the more the impression of tail-happy waywardness just fades away. That said though, the big brakes are superb. They’re designed to anchor the car from 150mph; at less than half that, they bite reassuringly hard.
Even after all this time, this V8 Aston Martin is still a potent British blunt instrument, massively charismatic, effortlessly elegant yet brimful with brute force when called upon. Just like one of its biggest fans, Commander James Bond 007 itself. Both are licensed to thrill. And do so with implicit ease.
SPECIAL THANKS
Many thanks to Keith Riddington at Classicmobilia near Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, where this completely original V8 is currently for sale. Q 01908 270672 Q classicmobilia.com