Aston Martin Volante (The Living Daylights)

"I've had a few optional extras installed."

Datastream Vehicle: Aston Martin V8 Volante Movie: The Living Daylights Owner: MI6 Registered: 18 March, 1985 Number Plate: B549 WUU Status: Destroyed Historical Overview "The Living Daylights" sees 007 (Timothy Dalton) reunited with iconic British car marker Aston Martin. Following Bond's (George Lazenby) use of the Aston Martin DBS in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", filmmakers changed gears, choosing the then brand new Lotus Esprit for 1977's "The Spy Who Loved Me" (Roger Moore), and again four years later for "For Your Eyes Only" (Roger Moore).

Despite reaching an iconic status thanks to modifications by Q-Branch, allowing Bond to submerse the car underwater and travel like a submarine, in 1987 filmmakers returned to Bond's most famous and recognisable vehicle, the Aston Martin.

The Aston Martin's return to the film, while a relief to loyal fans, proved to be somewhat confusing. The car is first seen at the Bladen Safe House as a convertible Aston Martin V8 Volante, complete with Volante badges.* When the car re-appears in Czechoslovakia, it can be seen to have been "winterised" by Q-Branch with the fitting of a hardtop. However, the car used in these scenes is in fact a non-Volante V8 Saloon, fitted with the same number plate "B549 WUU" and Volante badges as the car featured in the opening.

* The car used in the opening scenes was a production Volante owned by Victor Gauntlett, chairman of Aston Martin Lagonda.

Mission Dossier
Whilst driving towards the border, Bond tuned into the Police band on his multiple frequency car radio, and discovered the two were wanted by the Police. As they crossed the border they were spotted by a Czech police car, who gave chase. Bond slowed and drove alongside the police car, activated the hubcap laser and sliced the car clean off it's chassis. Further down the road Bond was confronted by a police road block, with a semitrailer parked in the middle, targeted the track with the guided missiles and blasted the truck to pieces, speeding directly through the wreckage.

The chase was still far from concluding, Bond drove the Aston onto a frozen lake area, and retracted the cars outrigger ski's and cruised across the lake whilst the pursuing cars slipped and went out of control. Finally, Bond activated the rocket booster and jumped the Aston over a ramp, ditching the car in a snow drift. Kara and Bond fled from the car, activated the self destruct system and sailed down the hill in Kara's cello case.

Technical Specifications
The 'Aston Martin V8 Volante' was hailed as "Britain's First Supercar" after it's release in 1977, with a top speed of 170 mph (270 km/h) and an engine shared with the Lagonda.

• Exterior: Cumberland Grey
• Interior: Black Leather
• Body Style: 2 Door Coupe /2 Door Convertible
• Engine: 5.3L V8
• Acceleration: 0 - 60 mph in 5.3 seconds

Gadgets and Refinements

• Bullet proof windows
• Jet engine rocket booster (located behind the rear number plate)
• Ice tires (with retractable spike studs released using compressed air)
• Retractable Ski Outriggers (used for snow and ice driving)
• Dual guided missile system and targeting display (concealed behind the fog lights)
• Cutting laser beams (mounted on the hubcaps)
• Police band scanning car radio
  Self-destruct system

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Many thanks to Katt Downey.