Aston Martin Volante (The Living Daylights)
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.