James Bond is one of the longest-running movie franchises in history with the 25th film, No Time to Die, released in 2021. The 007 series has captured many imaginations over the years and has on some level made many people wish they could be an MI6 spy, whether it is for the travelling lifestyle, the timeless fashion and apparel or the cars.
For us here at AutoTrader, it is most definitely the cars that have drawn our attention most. But like us, you might be wondering how much it will cost to own a car just like James Bond. We take a look at some of the iconic models that have been featured in the 007 films since 2006 and find out what would a standard model, without all the modifications from "Q", cost you. Note that the pricing reflected in this article was correct at the time of writing and could change at any time, without notice.
Aston Martin DBS
In 2006 the film Casino Royale was released which saw actor Pierce Brosnan replaced by Daniel Craig. Another star in the movie was the Aston Martin DBS which sadly only featured in a few scenes before the storyline sees it destroyed as James Bond swerves out to avoid hitting the Vesper Lynd character. The stunt got recognition from Guinness World Record as the for the most cannon rolls in a car, seven to be exact.
The Aston Martin DBS, based on the DB9 model, was a more performance-oriented vehicle from the British automaker and comes fitted with a 5.9-litre, V12 petrol engine coupled to either a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission. The combination results in 380 kW and 570 Nm of torque which will propel the DBS from 0-100 km/h in 4.3 seconds and on to a top speed of 309 km/h.
If you search for used Aston Martin DBS models on AutoTrader, you will find that the most affordable offerings come in at around the R 1 000 000 mark whereas you will pay closer to R 1 895 000 for a newer and less used example.
Alfa Romeo 159
In 2008, the next chapter in the James Bond franchise, Quantum of Solace, came along, and the action started from the onset where James Bond is once again driving an Aston Martin DBS while fending off attacks from bad guys driving Alfa Romeo 159 models. Although technically, James Bond didn't drive these cars, the Alfa Romeo 159 is still by today's standards a good looking car and a lot more attainable than some of the other models in this list.
The specific models used in the scene were the Alfa Romeo 159 3.2 V6 Q4. Under the bonnet features a 3.2-litre, V6 petrol motor coupled to a 6-speed manual transmission. The powertrain is capable of producing 191 kW and 322 Nm of torque and in combination with the all-wheel-drive system will allow the Italian model to reach 100 km/h, from zero, in 7.0 seconds and will go on to a top speed of 240 km/h.
In 2006, the recommended retail price for one of these was R 376 000, however, if you search for used Alfa Romeo 159 models on AutoTrader, you could find them for as little as R 139 900 depending on the specification, condition and age.
Jaguar XJ
While in the 2012 instalment of the James Bond franchise, Skyfall, another classic Aston Martin made an appearance, we would like to focus on another vehicle completely. The Jaguar XJ features in a few scenes throughout this film as it chauffeurs the character "M" to and from her meetings. During an attack, Bond essentially kidnaps agent "M" using her own vehicle to make an escape.
The Jaguar XJ featured in the film came with a variety of powertrain options, however, given the high-profile occupants, it is no wonder the Jaguar XJ 5.0 V8 Supercharged Supersport LWB was used. Under the bonnet features a 5.0-litre, supercharged, V8 petrol engine coupled to a 6-speed automatic transmission. The combination provides for 375 kW and 625 Nm of torque which will propel the large long-wheelbase model from 0-100 km/h in 4.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 250 km/h.
At the time of its launch, this specific model was priced at R 1 768 700 for its base specification, however, should you search for used Jaguar XJ models on AutoTrader, you could find 3.0-litre diesel derivatives selling for under R 300 000 and 5.0-litre, supercharged V8 variants for even less than R 600 000.
Aston Martin DBS Superleggera
In the most recent movie, the filmmakers truly treated automotive enthusiasts with an array of Aston Martin models of the past and present. One of the models featured is the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera which is actually driven by agent 007 while James Bond sits in the passenger seat.
This model is powered by a 5.2-litre, turbocharged, V12 petrol engine that is coupled to an 8-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain sends 534 kW and 900 Nm of torque to the rear wheels and will accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 3.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 340 km/h.
While this model is still available to order, pricing for a new example depends heavily on the specification. However, if you should search for used Aston Martin DBS Superleggera models on AutoTrader, you could find examples with a price tag in the region of around R 6 000 000.
The icon: Aston Martin DB5
The Aston Martin DB5 made its first appearance in the 1964 film Goldfinger and instantly became an icon in the series. It is such a signature vehicle for the franchise that it appeared in Thunderball, GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, Casino Royale, Skyfall, Spectre and in the latest film No Time to Die. Interestingly the original 1963 vehicle that featured in Goldfinger was stolen in 1997 and after 25 years of law enforcement as well as 007 fans searching for it, was finally found in a private collection.
Under the bonnet of the Aston Martin DB5 features a 4.0-litre, inline-6 cylinder petrol engine capable of 210 kW and 390 Nm of torque. The model could be either specified with a 5-speed manual gearbox or optional BorgWarner 3-speed automatic transmission. The British icon has an acceleration time from 0-100 km/h in 8 seconds and a top speed of 233 km/h.
Considering its rarity, history and the fact that you can't just get a new one, pricing is speculated on individual vehicles and will demand different values. If you take for instance the particular Aston Martin DB5 that featured in the Goldfinger film that was recently recovered, it is estimated that it could sell for as much as $ 25 000 000 or R 379 635 700 at auction, at the time of writing this article.
However, if you merely want an Aston Martin DB5 that does not necessarily have any connection with the movie franchise, at an auction held in 2019, a 1965 Aston Martin DB5 sold for $ 6 385 000 or R 96 923 980.
