The idea of James Bond driving anything bar an Aston Martin is inconceivable.
Bond has driven Aston’s since the 1964 film Goldfinger; the association further enhances the carmaker as a symbol of luxury, sophistication, and quintessential Britishness.
However, rumour has it that the original plan was to use a Jaguar E-type.
Ken Adams, the film’s set designer, noticed a parked Aston Martin DB5 Silver Birch while travelling to his office.
Working on a minimal budget for Goldfinger, he contacted Aston and asked if he could borrow a DB5, but Aston refused.
Ken was determined, and he continued to contact Aston until they agreed.
And loan it they did.
At the end of the shoot, the car had disappeared, never to be found again.
Nevertheless, my name is Bond. James Bond, relationship with Aston had been firmly set, much to the chagrin of Jaguar, still bathing in the admiration bestowed upon the E-type by Enzo Ferrari at the time.
Who, surprisingly, said of the E-type, ‘the most beautiful car ever made.’
The story is that Cubby Broccoli, the James Bond producer, originally approached William Lyons, Jaguar’s chairman, to use the E-Type as 007’s personal transport.
But Lyons declined, saying that they, Jaguar, had no need for the extra publicity.
Oh dear Mr Lyons, not your best decision.
