Top 10 James Bond Cars: Part 2

#5 Aston Martin V8 Vantage (The Living Daylights, 1987)

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage that Timothy Dalton drove in The Living Daylights was an absolute beauty. It was the last of the generation of Astons that were based on the original DBS design, and it had been perfected. The smooth, shiny gun metal finish, the elegant curves, and the gadgets packed in by Q, make this car a modern classic.

The optional extras, as Q jested, included spiked tyres for added traction, retractable skis, steel cutting lasers and land to land missiles. The gadget dashboard even included gadgets that weren't used. This is one of the classic Bond cars, with an interesting array of gadgets that fit well into the action.

#4 Aston Martin DBS V12 (Casino Royale, 2006)

Casino Royale was a reboot of the Bond series, going back to its roots. The story was one of the major refactors, but the film also came with a fresh James Bond, acclaimed director Martin Campbell (who had previously directed Goldeneye), and a general removal of the more ridiculous elements of some of the prior films.

Another welcomed change was the latest Aston Martin, the DBS V12, that would also return for Quantum Of Solace. The car didn't have the usual array of gadgets, having only a modest few secret compartments for Bond's gun and a defibrillator. A big change over previous Aston Martins is that it's not only beautiful on the outside, it also has a great interior.

#3 Ford Mustang Mach 1 (Diamonds Are Forever, 1971)

The Ford Mustang is an iconic car outside of the Bond series. But it was actually James Bond that first introduced the car to film. Tilly Masterson drove one in Goldfinger in 1964, in the swiss alps. The car is probably most widely known from its appearance in Bullitt, the 1968 film staring Steve McQueen, featuring an almost 10 minute car chase around San Francisco's hilly streets.

The Mustang shot to the forefront in Diamonds Are Forever, as Bond evaded the police in a chase through the streets of Las Vegas. After some modest, but impressive manoeuvres, Bond takes a wrong turn down a dead-end street, with a police car right behind him. With only a thin alleyway ahead, Bond drives up a ramp and puts the car on two wheels, driving right through.

#2 Lotus Espirit (The Spy Who Loved Me, 1977)

Now this is what Bond cars are all about, and it's about the best you can do without being an Aston Martin. Chased by a motorbike, cars, a helicopter, and underwater enemies as it turned into a submarine! It sounds cheesy, but it was done with class. The mechanical dashboard beautifully transformed, to reveal submarine instruments and dials, and the underwater scene was the most exciting since Thunderball.

On top of that, Barbara Bach was in the passenger seat. What more could you ask for? They even managed to fit a joke in, as the car emerged from the sea on to a busy beach, Bond opens the window and throws a fish out.

#1 Aston Martin DB5 (Goldfinger, 1964)

Well, what could we say. Cars have long been beautiful additions to films, but the Aston Martin DB5 was more than a sideline. Introduced by Q in one of his most memorable scenes, the gadgets were revealed up front, so that the viewers knew exactly what was coming--but they didn't know when. The DB5 is truly iconic, it's the first car that comes to anyone's mind when thinking of James Bond.

Goldfinger made the Aston Martin name what it is today. Aston Martin is James Bond's car. The DB5 gadgets, the night chase through the backlots of pinewood studios, the ejector seat, the Corgi toy model. The DB5 returned for Thunderball, Goldeneye, Tomorrow Never Dies and Casino Royale.