Today, October 5, is James Bond Day. It marks the anniversary of the world premiere of Dr. No, the first 007 movie, in 1962. In July of this year, the Japanese government set up its own MI6, called the National Intelligence Bureau, which raises the question of what tricked out car a Japanese spy would drive. Traditionally, James Bond has driven British models, except for a period in the 90s when BMW threw a mountain of cash at the franchise. Assuming Jin Bandoh could not be bought, he’d need a Japanese car that’s swift enough to evade captors, classy enough to pull up to a casino, and moddable enough to hide an arsenal of gadgets. The cars can span decades too, whether he was saving the world in the swingin’ Showa or Bubble Era or modern day.
If James Bond was Japanese, what would he drive?
The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “How have you given old parts new life?“.
The winner this week is Paul Markie, who turned extra parts into the ultimate furniture flex:
As an owner of a classic Japanese car no longer made, like many others with the same affliction, I am in the business of amassing a large collection of parts. Some of these parts are broken and I cannot bring myself to throw them away, and some are spares. Most of them reside in my garage in organized storage bins, waiting for the chance of reuse or resale. There are a few that get brought into what I’ll call lucky service or repurposing. The best example of this is the original passenger seat from Samus (my 1976 Datsun 280Z 2+2). One of the known and visible flaws when purchased was a rather large tear in the center of the driver’s seat, which may have been the result of the previous owners having too many bad Taco Tuesdays. Regardless, I was in the market for new seat covers, since my temporary fix of black industrial tape just wasn’t getting it. I happened to come across a pair of used (but in great condition) seats from a 240Z at the last Carlisle Import Nationals, and bought them, swapped out the hardware, and in the “new to me” seats went. With seats, no one ever sells just one, so I had a perfectly good passenger 280Z seat taking up needed space in the family garage.
In my office, I have a Herman Miller aero chair, and I am likely one of the few people who finds this in vogue piece of office furniture uncomfortable (I think it’s the mesh). It would be so much nicer if I could sit in a car seat while at my desk, and then I had an epiphany. I went to my local thrift shop, picked up an old, unwanted office chair, and after some evening work in my garage, I had made myself a new office chair by marrying my 280Z passenger seat to the plywood base and arms of the thrift chair. All it took was some painting, drilling, and using some longer M8 bolts. I have never been more comfortable sitting at my office desk, and I am reminded of how much I love my Datsun even when I cannot be driving it or working on it!
Omedetou, your comment has earned you a set of decals from the JNC Shop!
I actually think the brand should have been Nissan/Datsun.
James Bond always drove coupes (well… with the exception of the Citroën 2CV and the BMW 750, if I recall correctly); considering the 1962 debut—which is when the Datsun Fairlady launched—it would have been a logical choice for someone who needed to move fast.
There was a certain continuity with the brand over time—despite some lean spells—and almost always the option of choosing a sports coupe. I think a Nissan 260 could easily have replaced the Lotus Esprit S1 in the original franchise.
Obvious choice would be Lexus LC500. But spies don’t live an obviously lifestyle.
So he would still be in an Aston. Maybe a Zagato version or some sort of Japan exclusives such as a DB11 W1.
If 007 was Japanese would he drink “Sake, chilled and served in a proper ochoko”? No. James Bond drinks Vodka Martini. Shaken, not stirred.
As you may recall, Bond, James Bond, got a ride in a one off Toyota 2000 GT roadster in “You Only Live Twice”. So that gets my vote for Bond san. Though, if our fictional Japanese Mr. Bond san is set in modern times, perhaps the new GR GT would be more fitting.
The really curious thing about the Bond legacy is that in the original books he drove various Bentley cars.
The movie Bond drove Aston Martins, but the book Bond drove a series of custom Bentleys. Fleming loved Ford Thunderbirds.
I think that the Soarer is the right direction, but maybe the wrong brand. The Skyline seems like the right idea, but you need to remember Bond doesn’t want a sports car. He very much wants a high-speed luxury cruiser. ‘Grace, space, and pace’ without much space. A Japanese Bond would be driving a Gloria coupe until 九-Branch gives him a very trick Leopard coupe to replace it. That Leopard would be a two-tone Battleship grey over silver, with a blue leather interior.
It would definitely be an LC500. Coupe of course because he would fit without removing the roof.
It would definitely be an LC500. Coupe of course as he would fit without removing the roof.
I’m going to go with a JC Cosmo. It had all of the most cutting edge tech for 1990; touch screen, GPS navigation, mobile phone. Plus the twin-turbo 3-rotor wankel just cannot be beat for cool factor.
James Bond books and films have covered so many different here is that it seems hard to choose a single one.
1960s? Maybe a Prince Skyline Sport at the beginning, with later 60s driving either a Mazda Cosmo, or a Toyota 2000 GT. and not necessarily a convertible one like Sean Connery required.
1970s? A tough call; a Nissan Fairlady ZX turbo somehow doesn’t feel quite premium enough but I’m not sure what else would fit the bill. Maybe a Dome-0?
1980s? An r31 GTS-R feels like a powerful choice.
1990s? A V8 powered Toyota Soarer maybe. But I’d lean toward a three-rotor Mazda Cosmo.
2000s? Lexus LFA.
2010s? R35 GTR.
I think either generation of the Toyota Aristo would be a good car for 007. Just a few mods are all that are needed.
1978 Dome Zero is the Japanese version of the Lotus Esprit from “The Spy Who loved Me” and “For Your Eyes Only”. Cool looking car that would have a ton of screen presence. Futuristic looks that ties into the Bond gadgets. Dome Zero in a car chase scene would scary because you wouldn’t want to see the car get damaged.
I’m gonna say Previa. Go for sort of an A Team vibe 🙂
But a more serious answer would depend on the decade:
60s: 2000GT
70s: Skyline
80s: RX7
90s: Lexus SC from the header pic would be good, but there’s plenty of great choices. MR2 turbo would be interesting.
00s: Acura NSX still qualified, but I think the S2000 may be better choice
10s: Lexus LFA
20s: LC500
Nissan R390 of course
I’ve just been re-reading LFA: The Roar of an Angel, and chapter 7 tells the tale of how in 2005 the early LF-A prototype 680N-11 (still with the hyphen in the name and aluminium structure at that stage) was prepared in metallic silver and presented to Barbara Broccoli et al for consideration to be driven by Bond in Casino Royale. They went for Aston Martin, but Toyota still have their Bond candidate car in storage. So I think an LFA would be a wonderful Bond car, perhaps in black or something to be less conspicuous.
However, a Japanese secret agent would probably pick something less noticeable, especially with the culture of supercar-spotting today. I’m thinking a Subaru Legacy or Levorg, outwardly stock but with STi powertrain and running gear.
If the Aston Martin lineage is something to go by i’d say we’ll need a car that’s been in production for a long time, a Z would be the perfect solution!
Just like James bond however the Z didn’t fare too well after the turn of the millennium.