James Bond Cars - Aston Martin V8.

      In the book about Bondiana "James Bond. The Secret World of 007" the automobile, that James Bond drove during his "The Living Daylights" mission, plays a special part: the photoes with the image of "the eight", when it overcomes the obstacles in the form of staying on its path large lorries, repeated on the both endpapers and else - on the coloured inset in the central part of book to begin the description of Bond missions.

      You will say, "It would be better, you told us something new about Timothy Dalton!" We would do it, but in the quoted book you will not find even a word about the actors, who played Bond roles. This one is dedicated the cinema hero and discovers the secrets of creation this image. If you will luck, please, buy it to know all the details!

      But until this moment - read this fragment from the book or, if you are in haste, we suppose to look another article oabout Aston Martin V8 and about Timothy Dalton and his thoughts of this legendary car. We also add, that the both Pages are lavishly illustrated and contain a number of rare Timothy's photoes.

Aston Martin V8

      Loaded with armaments and specially "winterized" by Q branch with a hard top, retractable outriggers and spiked tyres, Bond's Cumberland grey Aston Martin V9 was a fitting successor to the DB5 and DBs he drove on earlier missions. It proved its worth when Bond and Kara fled communist Czechoslovakia, under the noses of the Soviet KGB and the Czesh police.

Luxury Ride

      The V8 provided comfort and style as well as thrills, with leather seats, air conditioning, walnut dashboard and door cappings, and Wilton carpets when not listening in to police messages on the radio/cassette, Bond drove along cool jazz.

Maximum Security

      To prevent the car falling into the wrong hands, Q Branch fitted the V8 with a special self-destruct systems. A timer gave the driver time to get away before the vehicle exploded.

Defence Console

      The switches and buttons for the V8's battery of weapons were concealed beneath a flap on the driver's left-hand side.

      1 - Firing buttons. For lasers in port and starboard front hubcaps, 2 - Missile Controls, 3 - Self-destruct button, 4 - Buttons operate V8's retractable outriggers, 5 - Length of tyre spikes can be suit a variety of off-road conditions.

Visual Targeting

      When the missile system was in operation, a heads-up visual display on the windscreen in front of the driver ensured total accuracy.

Laser Beams

      As an advamce on the DB5's tyre slasher, the V8's front hubcaps each housed a laser beam - ideal for destroying an enemy vehicle moving alongside at speed.
      1 - Laser beam, 2 - Laser firing mechanism, 3 - Power unit runs off auxiliary battery in boot.

Killer Punch

      The V8's deadliest weapons were two heat-seeking missiles, concealed behind the foglamps.





      1 - Hydraulic pump powers the unit, 2 - Steel runner, 3 - Guiding arms move missile forward on steel runners as foglamp drops, 4 - Missile, housed at front of chassis, 5 - Foglamp.

Jet Powered

      For extra trust, the V8 had a jet-engine booster rocket. Not only did this leave enemy vehicles standing, the blowback from the engine could do serious damage to pursuing vehicles.

      1 - High-octane fuel tank, 2 - Number plate flips up, 3 - Jet exhaust concealed behind rear number plate.

Ice Tyres

      Grip is always a problem in snowy conditions, and Q took no chances that 007 would skid off the road by fitting the V8 with special ice tyres. At the press of a button, spikes emerged from the tread of each tyre.



      1 - Compressed air reservoir, 2 - Hydraulic system powered by compressed air pushes spikes through tread, 3 - Tyre tread.

ASTON MARTIN V8 SPECIFICATION

Max speed:                    146 mph, 248 km/h
Acceleration:                 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 6,6 sec.
Fuel consumption        12,5 mpg (4.4 km/l)
Length:                           4,67 metres (15 ft 4 in)
Width:                             1,83 metres (6 ft)
Engine capacity:           5340 cc, fuel injection

How It Was Done

      With the Czech Police and Soviet KGB closing in, Bond had to escape Czechoslovakia with Kara, his sole lead in the Koskov case. He decided to make a break for the Austria border in his "winterized" Aston Martin V8. Kara slowed him down by begging him to stop and collect her Stradivarius cello. Before too long, the police were hot on their trail.

Here Comes Trouble

      Having tuned in the police band on the V8's radio, Bond was not surprised when a police car started following them.

Laser Beam

      As the police waved him down, Bond activated the laser in the left front hubcap. The police were totally unaware of what was happened.

Wear and Tear

      The Laser sliced the car's body clear of chssis. "Salt corrosion", explained Bond tp the startled Kara.

Road Blocked

      Police had positioned a lorry across the road - there seemed no way past. Unruffled, 007 mentioned, that the V8 had some "optional extras". At the paress of a button twin rockets homed in on target.

Leap of Faith

      The lorry exploded and Bond drove on. Bullets bounced harmlessly of the V8's bulletproof glass.

Big Guns

      Suddenly two armoured cars appeared. One of them fired at the car, but missed. Bond veered down a track that led to an ice covered lake.

Breaking Cover

      Bond drove into a wooden boathouse and using its cover, careered across about to fire, he accelerated out of the shack - just as a shell hit it.

Ice-breaker

      A lone police car pursued Bond, and a grenade blew off his left front tyre. Bond turned the tables by using the sharp wheel-hub to cut right through the thick ice.

Laser Beam

      The police car foundered in icy water. Bond activated his tyre spikes for extra grip and sped off.

Rocket Power

      Faced with yet another obstacle - a Czech border post - 007 engaged the V8's outriggers and then its rocket motor.

Up and Up

      The border post's fortifications acted as a ramp, and the rocket-powered V8 hurtled into the air.

      1 - The V8 approached the border post, 2 - Border guards too surprised to fire, 3 - Ski trooper, 4 - Border patrol blockhouse.

Ski Jump

      The car soared over the guards, and plunged down a hill on its skis.

Car Smash

      The V8 finally smashed into some trees. Czech troops on skis saw their chance of making an arrest.

Self-destruct

      Bond pressed the V8's self-destruct button - he and Kara just had time to get clear.

Home Free

      Bond and Kara tobogganed into Austria, using Kara's cello case - it came in useful after all.

      COPYRIGHT 2000-2001, "James Bond. The Secret World of 007".

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