James Bond's Aston Martin V8 Vantage
The Ultimate Q-Branch Gadget Car from 'The Living Daylights'
In "The Living Daylights," James Bond's Aston Martin V8 Vantage takes center stage in a thrilling escape through snowy Czechoslovakia, showcasing an array of Q-Branch gadgets, pulling some skids, and escaping unhurt with bond-girl in tow. This iconic car not only delivered action-packed performance but also highlighted the timeless elegance and prestige of Aston Martin engineering.
007's Aston Martin V8 Vantage - Front Wheel Lasers for slicing Lada
The Car Chase
In this iconic scene in "The Living Daylights" Bond attempts to smuggle Kara Milovy across the border from Czechoslovakia (modern day Slovakia) into Austria. Bond scans the police radio and learns of orders to apprehend a foreign car. The Aston Martin is soon pursued by a police Lada; Bond deploys his wheel lasers to easily cut the car in half.
They soon see a road-block up ahead, bond fires his heat-seeking missiles at a truck blocking the road to clear a way through for the V8. Bond soon faces gunfire and takes a snowy side road to avoid meeting a border tank.
Bond heads to a frozen lake and deploys outrigger skis after a tyre is punctured by gunfire. Bond then uses the bare wheel to cut a circle in the ice, sinking a police car. (If your tyres are punctured by gunfire we can arrange replacements)
Bond uses the rocket booster to launch the car up a ramp, landing smoothly in a snowbank. Getting out, Bond activates the car's self-destruct procedure and escapes down the hill using a cello case as a sled (an underrated Bond vehicle in its own right). Bond and Milovy cross the border into Austria riding the Cello.
007's Aston Martin V8 Vantage with Outrigger Skis
Bond's Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante
The car at the start of "The Living Daylights" is a V8 Vantage Volante registration number B549 WUU, a convertible owned by Victor Gauntlett, Aston Martin Lagonda chairman. For use in snowy Czechoslovakia, Q Branch is shown fitting the Volante with a hardtop to "winterize" it.
In reality, 2 non-Vantage V8 saloons (hardtop coupes) were used for these scenes. These saloons had Vantage badges and matching number plates to look like the V8 Vantage Volante, appearing like the original car but with a hard-top.
A total of 11 Aston Martins were used in the film. Three were fully functional hard-tops: one standard Vantage for regular scenes involving Timothy Dalton, one modified for stunt use, and one "special effects car" with gadgets. One car was little more than a steerable chassis without an engine. The remaining cars were fiberglass replicas.
PIRELLI P7 Tyres on Bond's V8 Vantage
- In the film, Bond's Vantage is equipped with PIRELLI CINTURATO ™ P7 tyres.
- The P7 is a high-performance sports car tyre that was highly desirable for the most potent sports cars of the 1970s and 1980s! Its no wonder Q branch acquired a set for Bond's V8 Vantage.
- Follow the link to see our page on Aston Martin V8 & Vantage Tyres
Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante Tyres
James Bond 007 - The Living Daylights Poster
Aston Martin 007 Gadgets
- Missiles: Two missiles hidden behind the front lights can be armed and fired using switches in the armrest and a disguised cigarette lighter switch.
- Heads-Up Display (HUD): A targeting display on the windshield provides missile system data like distance, aiming, and speed.
- Lasers: Front wheel spinners house laser emitters that can cut through the chassis of nearby vehicles.
- Outriggers: Retractable metal skis deploy from either side of the car for better handling on snow and ice.
- Tyre Spikes: Retractable ice spikes in the PIRELLI CINTURATO ™ P7 tyres enhance traction on icy surfaces, controlled via a switch. (Ice spikes currently out of stock)
- Rocket Motor: A rocket booster behind the rear number plate provides a quick burst of speed (good for ramps).
- Radio Scanner: A modified car radio can intercept civilian, police, and military frequencies.
- Reinforced Chassis: The car has a reinforced chassis and bulletproof rear windscreen to withstand gunfire and rocket propelled grenade impacts.
- Self-Destruct: A self-destruct mechanism is armed via a hidden switch in the center console for emergency situations.
007's Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante on PIRELLI CINTURATO ™ P7 Tyres
The Aston Martin V8 Vantage in "The Living Daylights" is a quintessential Bond car that combines sleek design, powerful performance, and an arsenal of clever gadgets to make for one of the most memorable chase scenes in the Bond franchise.
The conversion from a soft-top V8 Volante to a hard-top V8 coupe raises eyebrows among the more discerning Aston Martin boffins. However, this vehicle will always be remembered by 007 fans and auto enthusiasts alike as a monument to the creativity of Q Branch within the movie, and the power, elegance, and coolness of Aston Martin in real life.