Fast & Furious fans may disagree, but there may be no better movie franchise for car lovers than the James Bond films. What the spy series lacks in the sheer quantity of cars—at least compared to the F&F movies—it more than makes up for in quality. After all, the series does feature what is easily the most iconic vehicle in cinematic history: 007’s trusted Aston Martin DB5, which has appeared in eight installments. From the exotic (all those Astons) to the surprising (a Chevy Impala) to the downright bizarre (a motorized rickshaw), here are the best cars he’s driven—or been driven in—from the 25 movies that make up the beloved spy series. As for those diabolical 007 villains’ vehicles, look for that story in this space before long.
39
2007 Ford Edge SEL
Photo : Eon Productions
There’s nothing wrong with the Ford Edge SEL. It’s a solid if unremarkable crossover. Reliable as it may be, it’s not the kind of vehicle you picture someone as debonair as James Bond driving. The spy is able to use the vehicle’s rear door to disarm a henchman in 2008’s Quantum of Solace, but that’s not enough to stop it from coming in last on our list.
38
2007 Ford Mondeo Mk IV
Photo : Eon Productions
The Mondeo is basically the generic sedan equivalent of the Edge. So why does this four-door, which appears in Daniel Craig’s first Bond film, Casino Royale (2006), rank ahead of its cousin? Because it’s a hand-crafted pre-lease example made specifically for the film (something that happens less in this franchise than you’d expect). It’s unclear why Ford went to the trouble, but that’s just enough to keep it out of the bottom spot.
37
1985 Ford LTD
Photo : Eon Productions
You may be noticing a pattern here, but we really don’t have anything against Fords. In fact, there’s a few more coming up later on this very list. Unfortunately, the Detroit giant doesn’t make the kind of cars you expect Bond to drive. Take this LTD from Roger Moore’s final entry in the franchise, 1985’s A View to a Kill. It’s bland and boxy and not exciting in any way. Does that sound like the kind of car 007 should be behind the wheel of?
36
1971 Ford Galaxie 500
Photo : Eon Productions
This Ford—the last for a while, we promise—at least has some novelty to it, especially in the 2020s. The Galaxie 500 is, to be blunt, a boat. And because of that, it’s almost funny to see Bond trying to maneuver it around, which he gamely tries to do, just for a moment, in 1971’s Diamonds Are Forever. That little bit of levity earned this behemoth an advantage over the automaker’s previous three entries on this list.
35
2011 Jaguar XJ
Photo : Eon Productions
Unlike the above vehicles, it’s not hard to imagine Bond behind the wheel of a Jaguar. Unfortunately, the 2011 XJ that he drives in 2012’s Skyfall isn’t going to go down in history as one of the automaker’s best efforts. The saloon in question is M’s company car, which Bond drives while trying to foil a kidnapping attempt. The four-door is commanding, but it lacks the romance of the British marque’s finest sports cars.
34
1995 BMW Z3
Photo : Eon Productions
Aston Martin may be the carmaker most associated with James Bond, but it was BMW that had a product placement deal with the franchise during the Pierce Brosnan era. For the most part, the brand’s vehicles acquitted themselves quite well during the trio of films they appeared in. Still, of the German-made autos, the Z3 from 1995’s Golden Eye is by far the most forgettable. It’s a fine enough car, but considering it’s the first non-British vehicle to feature as Agent 007’s primary mode of transportation, you’d hope for something a little more exciting.
33
1970 Triumph Stag
Photo : Eon Productions
The 1970 Triumph Stag look just like a classic British roadster. Unfortunately, because of an unreliable mill, it couldn’t really act the part. That’s the reason why the car was discontinued in 1973, just three years after having been featured in Diamonds Are Forever. Still, the mustard-yellow sports car was still hearty enough to get Connery’s Bond from England to Amsterdam before the end of its not particularly memorable cameo.
32
1947 AEC Regent III
Photo : Eon Productions
The AEC Regent III from 1973’s Live and Let Die is easily the biggest vehicle that Bond has driven through 25 movies. That’s because it’s not a car or SUV or even a tank—it’s a double-decker bus. The vehicle, which was operated by London Transport before being shipped to Jamaica for filming, also takes a real beating during the spy’s eighth cinematic adventure, losing its top half after Bond commandeers it while fleeing from police in the fictional San Monique.
31
2011 Mercedes-Benz S 300
Photo : Eon Productions
Just like the Jaguar XJ that also appeared in Skyfall, the Mercedes-Benz S 300 is an objectively good automobile. Bond drives the mid-fifth-generation refresh of the German automaker’s luxury flagship while posing as Patrice’s driver. It’s an elegant saloon, and exactly the sort of vehicle you expect a chauffeur to drive, but it’s just not sexy enough for everyone’s favorite spy.
30
1973 Chevrolet Impala
Photo : Eon Productions
The Chevy Impala is another car you wouldn’t necessarily expect to see Bond driving, but the pair make a good match in Live and Let Die. The spy can be seen driving a brown two-door version of the car while in San Monique. Sure, the car is big—you might even call it giant—but that also provides our hero with some much-needed protection.
29
1974 AMC Hornet
Photo : Eon Productions
It may not be one of the most fondly remembered cars, but the AMC Hornet serves Roger Moore’s Bond quite well in 1974’s The Man with the Golden Gun. 007 steals the compact hatchback directly off the showroom floor of a dealership in Bangkok while in pursuit of assassin Francisco Scaramanga. The highlight of the vehicle’s appearance in the film is a daring jump over a river just outside of town.
28
1980 Alfa Romeo GTV6
Photo : Eon Productions
The GTV6 isn’t the first car that leaps to mind when most people think of Alfa Romeo, but it definitely has its charms. The budget-oriented fastback coupe wasn’t particularly powerful, but it did feature a gorgeous Giorgetto Giugiaro–penned design that stood out (and calls to mind the more famous DeLorean DMC-12). The car is involved in—what else—a high-speed pursuit in 1983’s Octopussy and looks great while doing it.
27
2005 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
Photo : Eon Productions
It doesn’t matter where he is in the world, James Bond knows how to travel in style. Our hero manages to cut a debonair figure while speeding around Bolivia in a Land Rover Range Rover Sport during Quantum of Solace. The spy doesn’t just drive the SUV, though. He also manages to use it for collateral for a plane.
26
J90-Series Toyota Land Cruiser Prado
Photo : Eon Productions
Many of the best Bond cars are the type of vehicles most people can only dream of owning. The spy repeatedly shows, though, that it’s not only the car that matters, but also the driver. Just look at the Land Cruiser Prado he drives in 2021’s No Time to Die. Sure, the mid-90s 4×4 looks cool, but you wouldn’t expect it be a match for a brand-new Range Rover Sport. But when Bond’s behind the wheel, things rarely turn out the way his pursuers expect.
25
1997 BMW 750iL
Photo : Eon Productions
At a glance, the 750iL, despite being BMW’s late 1990s flagship, might not look all that sexy. Watch the film that it appears in, though—1997’s Tomorrow Never Dies—and it immediately becomes clear that there’s more to it than meets the eye. Q fixes up the four-door with a tear gas-spraying security system, a hidden finger-protected safe, and a roof-mounted rocket launcher. If all that wasn’t enough, the car can also be driven remotely via Bond’s cell phone. Not bad, right?
24
1960 Ford Ranch Wagon
Photo : Eon Productions
James Bond in a station wagon? Okay, we know it sounds strange, but it works. And a big reason why is because the white and chrome Ford Ranch Wagon the spy drives in 1963’s From Russia With Love is about as sharp as estate cars from the era get. The vehicle is responsible for one of the film’s continuity gaffes, though. The first time we see the car, when Bond is behind the wheel, it has two doors, the next time, it has four.
23
Mercedes-Benz 250SE
Photo : Eon Productions
We know what you’re thinking: Why does the Mercedes-Benz 250SE rank so much higher than its more-modern equivalent, the S 300? The reason is simple. The W108-generation sedan, which nearly steals the show in Octopussy, has an elegant design that’s already passed the test of time. It doesn’t hurt that the black four-door is also involved in one of the more exciting (and ridiculous) chases in franchise history, which involves the car speeding along train tracks on its rims after its tires are shredded.
22
2002 Aston Martin V12 Vanquish
Photo : Eon Productions
Look, the V12 Vanquish, which appears in 2002’s Die Another Day, is a cool car, but of the many Aston Martins that have appeared in the Bond franchise, it might be the most forgettable (ironic since it was the marque’s first car to appear in the series following a 15-year absence). The reason why comes down to one of its M-installed adaptive camouflage field. Sure, it’s easy to see why the ability to “vanish” may come in handy for a spy constantly getting himself into trouble, but part of the fun of all the great cars in this franchise is getting to see Bond actually drive them . . .
21
1989 Ford Bronco II XLT
Photo : Eon Productions
As handsome as he may be, James Bond isn’t afraid to get down and dirty—especially if it gets the job done. In Quantum of Solace, our hero has finished off a boat chase with General Medrano’s men when he sees this Ford Bronco II XLT just sitting there with its door open. Never one to let an opportunity pass him by, he gets in and continues his pursuit of the villainous Dominic Greene. Sure, it would have been cooler if he’d been driving a classic Bronco, but this compact off-roader more than holds its own.
20
1981 Citroën 2CV6
Photo : Eon Productions
The Citroën 2CV6 is as unformidable as Bond cars get. The French compact is undeniably cute and the filmmakers behind 1981’s For Your Eyes Only use that to their advantage. The yellow four-door belongs to the spy’s love interest, Melina Havelock, and gets them out of more than a few jams thanks to its naturally aerated flat-four and mild off-roading capabilities. It also stars in one of the more cartoonish scenes in the franchise, when Bond, Havelock, and some local villagers have to push the vehicle upright after it tips over on its side.
19
1985 Renault 11
Photo : Eon Productions
Yes, the Renault 11 may look like just another non-descript ‘80s sedan, but it proves itself to be so much more in A View to a Kill. Bond steals the car directly from a taxi driver in front of the Eiffel Tower and then sets off on one of the more over-the-top car chases in the franchise. During the minutes-long sequence, the vehicle speeds down a flight of stairs in reverse, jumps on top of a bus, loses its roof, and gets ripped in half. Despite all this, the car never stops running.
18
1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1
Photo : Eon Productions
The Ford Mustang Mach 1 is one of its era’s best muscle cars, but it was let down by Diamonds Are Forever’s filmmakers. Bond drives the car in the film’s big Vegas chase scene. What should be a crowd-pleasing sequence instead becomes a moment of comedy, thanks to a continuity error that shows the car entering an alley riding on its right wheels but somehow exiting on its left wheels. Some moviegoers may not notice, but it’s a flub no car lover would miss.
17
1957 Ford Fairlane
Photo : Eon Productions
Not all Bond cars are involved in jaw-dropping action sequences. Just look at the 1957 Ford Fairlane that Pierce Brosnan borrows to drive around Cuba in Die Another Day. The white-and-brown convertible—a strange combo that works—is smooth and sophisticated in a way that nothing else in this rather terrible film is. Another Fairlane appears in 1965’s Thunderball, though that one isn’t driven by Bond.
16
Russian T-95 Tank
Photo : Eon Productions
Golden Eye may have returned a sense of gravitas to the Bond franchise, but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t room for some fun. Take, for example, the film’s signature chase scene in which our hero uses a T-95 tank to attempt to rescue love interest Natalya from the clutches of the villainous Ourumov. While it’s not even close to a street-legal production vehicle, there’s no denying it’s one extremely cool ride.
15
1983 Bajaj RE
Photo : Eon Productions
First things first: Bond doesn’t technically drive the Bajaj RE, but he does provide directions and defense from the backseat in Octopussy. The motorized rickshaw is actually piloted by Bond’s MI6 comrade, Vijay, who manages some pretty remarkable feats in the three-wheeler, including an impossible-to-forget wheelie down a crowded street.
14
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible
Photo : Eon Productions
The Chevrolet Bel Air holds the distinction of being the first vehicle Bond drives in the franchise. Near the start of series opener 1962’s Dr No, the spy is retrieved from the airport by a chauffeur driving the gleaming back-over-red convertible. As tends to happen in Bond films, the chauffeur is not who he claims to be, and after a scuffle, he ends up dead, leaving Bond to pilot the car himself.
13
1969 Aston Martin DBS
Photo : Eon Productions
1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service is one of the Bond franchise’s more curious entries. Perhaps because it starred George Lazenby, who only played the role for a single film, the movie is somewhat forgotten at this point. It has its adherents, though, like filmmaker Steven Soderbergh, who praise it for its singular qualities. For all its strangeness, it does have an Aston Martin, specifically a very sleek 1969. It doesn’t have the gadgets or pedigree of its predecessor (more on that car in a bit), but it is more than deserving of its role as a Bond car.
12
1999 BMW Z8
Photo : Eon Productions
The BMW Z3 may not have been the right fit for Bond, but the Z8 definitely was. The retro-styled roadster from 1998’s The World Is Not Enough was a tribute to the German marque’s 507 convertible from the late ’50s. Even if it didn’t look good, the Z8 stands out for its capabilities, both in the real world (it packs a V-8 that produces 400 horses) and the Bond universe (it’s equipped with surface-to-air missiles). It does get cut in half before the film’s over, but it manages to put on an impressive showing before that.
11
1961 Sunbeam Alpine
Photo : Eon Productions
Here it is, the first official Bond car. The spy may briefly drive a Chevy Bel Air during the first act of Dr. No, but this stunning metallic-blue convertible is the first he doesn’t have to commandeer from someone else. It’s far from the most capable vehicle our hero drives, but it’s more than potent enough to outrun Dr. No’s henchman on the winding dirt roads of Kingston, Jamaica.
10
2006 Aston Martin DBS V12
Photo : Eon Productions
Now this is more like it. Aston Martin made its return to the franchise in Die Another Day, but the most notable thing about that car was its ability to disappear. Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace’s DBS V12, on the other hand, is meant to be seen. The grand tourer lacks the gadgetry of some other Bond cars, but that’s because it doesn’t need them, thanks in no small part to its V-12 powerplant. The only reason it doesn’t rank higher is that its biggest moment is a crash in which it flips a record-setting seven times.
9
1981 Lotus Esprit Turbo
Photo : Eon Productions
This is the second of two Lotus Esprits to feature in the franchise, and it’s easy to see why producers brought the angular sports car back. In fact, two of the turbocharged vehicles appear in For Your Eyes Only. The first is a white example that’s blown up after a thief trips its self-destruct system, and the second is a bronze iteration Bond drives to a ski resort in northern Italy. The latter even comes equipped with a special ski rack positioned over its engine cover.
8
Land Rover Series III
Photo : Eon Productions
Bond drives a number of off-roaders throughout the franchise, but the best, without a doubt, is the Land Rover Series III from No Time to Die. Sean Connery is the most iconic Bond, but Daniel Craig is the most stylish. Look no further than the vehicle he uses to get around Port Antonio in Jamaica. His Series III is a blue two-door with a boxy body and a spare wheel attached to its hood. Just more proof that Bond can look good in any situation.
7
1967 Toyota 2000GT
Photo : Eon Productions
James Bond doesn’t always get to drive the best car in one of his films. Just look at the Toyota 2000GT from 1967’s You Only Live Twice. The Japanese automaker built two convertible examples of the curvy coupe for the production because star Sean Connery was too tall for the vehicle. The car belongs to and is primarily driven by the spy’s girlfriend in the film, Aki, but that didn’t stop Daniel Craig from picking it as his favorite Bond car.
6
1969 Mercury Cougar XR-7
Photo : Eon Productions
Unsurprisingly, as a member of the U.K.’s MI6, 007 spends a lot of his time riding around in British-made vehicles during the 25-movie Bond series. Of those made abroad, our favorite has to be the 1969 Mercury Cougar XR-7 from On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. There’s something so satisfying about seeing Bond, who’s being driven by lover Contessa Teresa di Vicenzo, in a genuine muscle car, and that’s before the vehicle ends up careening through an ice race. It’s little wonder this car became the most expensive Cougar of all time when it sold for US$481,000 (HK$3.77 million) in 2020.
5
2015 Aston Martin DB10
Photo : Eon Productions
It was bound to happen sooner or later. In the lead-up to the 24th Bond film, 2015’s Spectre, Aston Martin announced it would develop a model specifically for the franchise. That car would be the DB10. The automaker built just 10 examples of the car, eight of which were used for filming, and two for display. The car wasn’t just for the movie, though. It also served as a concept of sorts, previewing the brand’s new design language for the latter half of the decade. Unfortunately, those series-production cars, specifically the DB11 and V8 Vantage, didn’t come with the big-screen version’s flamethrower or ejector seat.
4
1985 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante
Photo : Eon Productions
The 1980s was a nadir for the Bond films. Roger Moore’s last films were more goofy than thrilling, and audiences weren’t won over by his successor, Timothy Dalton. Still, one of the coolest cars in the franchise, the 1985 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante, was featured onscreen during this era. And the second iteration of “Britain’s First Supercar” did not disappoint in 1987’s The Living Daylights, thanks to its bold styling and powerful V-8. Its missile launchers and laser cutters didn’t hurt, either. This car was so good that it was brought back for a cameo in No Time to Die.
3
1935 Bentley 3 ½ Liter
Photo : Eon Productions
Most people may forget, but the first car that Bond actually owns in the movies is a Bentley, not an Aston Martin. Specifically, in From Russia With Love, we get a brief peek of his 1935 3 ½ Liter. Later, in 1964’s Goldfinger, it’s revealed that the retro drophead was actually Bond’s first Q Branch vehicle and even has a gadget to prove it—a rare-for-the-time car phone. Although Aston Martin is the defining marque of the film series, Bond’s creator Ian Fleming clearly had a soft spot for Bentleys and featured a Blower and Mark VI in his books.
2
1976 Lotus Esprit S1 ‘Wet Nellie’
Photo : Eon Productions
If you came of age watching movies in the ’70 or ’80s, then there’s a chance that the Lotus Esprit S1, or “Wet Nellie” as it’s affectionately known, is the ultimate Bond car for you. That’s because the vehicle, which appears in 1977’s The Spy Who Loved Me isn’t just a wedge-shaped sports car: It can also be used in the water. Q whips up a number of cool gadgets for Bond’s vehicles throughout the franchise, but the Esprit’s “Submersible Mode” is almost certainly at the very top of the list.
1
1964 Aston Martin DB5
Photo : Eon Productions
Look, you can make your case for the DeLorean DMC-12, but the Aston Martin DB5 is the most famous movie car as far as we’re concerned. There’s a reason why the car has returned seven times since making its debut in Goldfinger, meaning it has appeared in the series more than any of the actors who’ve played Bond on the silver screen (Connery and Moore are tied at seven films each). It’s easy to see why, too. The car itself is a stone-cold classic, but thanks to some modifications courtesy of Q—chiefly its front-wing machine guns, an ejector seat, and a smoke screen—it’s the kind of car that no movie watcher is ever going to forget.
