The cars from ‘UNCLE’
… plus the bikes, jeeps and boats
ETHAN Hunt may have wreaked mayhem with his BMW M3, and James Bond would tear up Rome in his Aston Martin DB10, but the coolest cars and rides may just be rolling in the movie “The Man from UNCLE.”
Based on the popular 1960s TV series, the new film is directed by Guy Ritchie. His previous claim to motoring fame came with his BMW-sponsored short film “Star,” where Ritchie’s then-wife Madonna takes a burnout of a ride with “the hire” Clive Owen.
But while “Mission: Impossible–Rogue Nation” resembles a theme park ride, “The Man from UNCLE” is more of a hangout type of film.
Sure, there’s some espionage and plenty of saving-the-world activities going around, but the real reason to watch the film is to soak up the atmosphere.
The movie, like the series, is set in the 1960s and tells the origin story of the fictitious spy organization.
The opening scene sets the tone, with East German mechanic Alicia Vikander popping out from under a MercedesBenz limousine she has been modifying.
The plan requires something more communist, so the first car chase is between infamous rattletraps: a Trabant and a Wartburg.
As the scene shifts to Rome, the fashion quotient escalates, with reluctant teammates Napoleon Solo (Henry Cavill) and Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer) doing a little Roman Holiday on a Vespa VBB 150.
Jaguar wasn’t kidding when it proclaimed, “It’s good to be bad.” The villains in the movie practically have a royal appointment to the brand, with a Jaguar Mk IX serving as a limousine, while Elizabeth Debicki’s mysterious countess prefers a blood-red E Type.
For the scene shot at the Goodwood Estate, of Festival of Speed fame, Jaguar D Types run around the track. A 1960s Formula One car, based on the race-winning Honda RS300 car, catches Vikander’s eye.
That’s not to say there’s no excitement in the movie. A set piece worthy of the “Fast and Furious” series, without as much superheroic feats, involves a Land Rover chase. The vehicles doing the chasing are a Métisse Desert Racer, modeled after the bike designed by one Steve McQueen. A custom Rock Crawler dune buggy goes headto-head with the Defender.
On the sea, the men from “UNCLE” use a Fletcher powerboat to escape. The Rolls-Royce of powerboats, the beautiful wood-sheathed Riva, makes an appearance, too.
Taking to the air is a Hiller helicopter similar to the one used by Pussy Galore in “Goldfinger.” That’s quite appropriate, given that Bond creator Ian Fleming helped create the source TV series.
“The Man from UNCLE” is a feast for vintage fans, beginning with the aforementioned vehicles. There’s more for those fond of clothes and watches, including a vintage Omega reportedly loaned by the Swiss watch company.
It’s all in the name of looking good while saving the world.
As Napoleon Solo says to his partner, “Not very good at this whole subtlety thing, are you?”