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The largest official Bond vehicle exhibit in the US is now on view in Los Angeles! Discover screen-used vehicles driven by the most famous British secret agent: James Bond.

Here is a look at” Bond in Action.”

The debut of the Super-Spy

In 1953, James Bond, a British officer of the MI6 (British Secret Intelligence Service), debuted as a super-spy with the novel Casino Royale. In 13 years, his worldwide adventure extended as author Ian Fleming published twelve Bond novels and two short stories.

Dr. No was the first movie adaptation in 1962. Since then, six actors played 007 and fought more than 405 villains over 25 franchised films!

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Bond’s behind-the-wheel

Bond chases his enemies with gadgetry and weaponized vehicles such as cars, motorcycles, boats, submarines, helicopters, and airplanes. This exhibit showcases screen-used vehicles as well as scale filming models.

Aston Martin DB5 is one of the most iconic Bond vehicles which appeared in most Bond films. Driven by three different 007, the elegant car has several gadgets like an ejector seat and front-end machine guns. Featured in “GoldenEye,” “Tomorrow Never Dies,” “Skyfall,” “Spectre,” and “No Time to Die.”

The below Aston Martin DBS shows how James Bond pulverizes his cars during chase scenes. For “Quantum of Solace,” the production damaged seven similar cars: bullet holes, missing doors, and many scratches.

Aston Martin V8 with hydraulic outrigger skis was built especially for the Bond movie “Living Daylights” with Timothy Dalton.

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Did you know?

The Honda ATC-90 [Diamond Are Forever (1971)] was considered as the first modern All-Terrain Vehicle (ATC). Sean Connery as Bond used it to cross the Nevada desert when his cover was exposed.

977 LOTUS ESPRIT S1 “WET NELLIE” is the submarine car. With “The Spy Who Loved Me” (1977), 007 aka Roger Moore’s Bond, convert his car into a submarine with torpedoes, periscope, rocket missile, protective louvres, and more. 

In “For Your Eyes Only” (1981), Roger Moore as Bond and French actress Carole Bouquet used the two-man Neptune Submarine to search for a sunken vessel.

Did you know?

The 1977 Wetbike watercycle [“The Spy Who Love Me“] was the world’s first aquatic motorbike (Jet ski technology was new and not yet commercialized)

The 1969 Mercury Cougar XR-7 Convertible belongs to Tracy Draco (Diana Rigg), the future Mrs. Bond. In “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service,” she helped 007 (played by George Lazenby) escaping villains.

Note: James Bond married only once.

Did you know?

The boat Glastron GT-150 [“Live and Let Die” (1973)] was used to perform the Guinness World Record-setting 110-foot jump.

More vehicles in display to discover at the Petersen Museum until October 30^th, 2022!

Article based on my visit in October 2021

Ready to discover more James Bond’s vehicles?

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*COVD-19 update as of November 2021*

– Please wear a mask and practice a physical distance of 6 feet between yourself and others

– Please check L.A County’s health and safety protocols before your visit

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Plan your visit:

• Exhibit on view from September 25^th, 2021 – October 30th, 2022
• Location: Petersen Automobile Museum, 6060 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA,90036
• Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Monday-Sunday.
• Admission: $17
• Duration: I spent 1 hour discovering it  
• Parking: unmetered street parking and paid parking lot
• More information is available at https://www.petersen.org/bond

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