Bond's Cars - it's not all Aston Martins... Quiz

Answer: Bentley

Like Henry Royce (of Rolls Royce fame), Walter Owen Bentley started his career as a railway engineering apprentice. Bentley Motors was formed in 1919, but if Bond bought the car in 1933, that was at a time when Bentley Motors (1931) Ltd belonged wholly to Rolls Royce. Queen Elizabeth II was presented with a Bentley State Limousine in 2002 to celebrate her Golden Jubilee, so they are still being driven by prestigious customers! That particular Bentley had much bigger windows than usual (so everybody could see the Queen), which unfortunately made it a sort of mobile greenhouse, so the boffins at MIRA (Motor Industry Research Association) had to come up with some clever cooling tricks. Q would have been impressed!

Answer: Cord

Cord cars were made by the Auburn Automobile Company in the early part of the twentieth century and are regarded as innovative technologically. Bond thought the 15 year-old model he was picked up in as 'still one of the most modern-looking cars in the world'. Bond left the car in the airport parking lot at Tampa. If you would like to own one yourself, they are some very nice-looking ones available for approximately £100,000 ($163,000)!

Answer: Rolls of newsprint paper

Krebs jumped onto the lorry, carrying fourteen tons of newsprint to an East Kent newspaper, and cut the ropes on the load. Krebs described the result as 'like the lavatory paper of a giant'. Despite this, Bond was driving the car again by 'From Russia with Love' - he must have had a brilliant mechanic!

Answer: Studillac

The Studillac, a Studebaker fitted with a Cadillac V8 engine, actually existed, which is more than you can say for the wrong answers.

Answer: Rolls-Royce

Although Cadillac made probably the best known Coupe de Ville, it is not a British firm. Rolls-Royce has been synonomous with British luxury cars since 1906, but now it is owned by BMW.

Answer: Sunbeam Alpine

A black Sunbeam-Talbot Alpine, which was a two-seat sports roadster originally developed as a rally car. Rootes no longer exists, but the only other answer that was made by them is the Hillman Imp, which had a magnificent 82 inch (2.08 metre) wheelbase, and somehow I can't imagine James Bond in one!

Answer: Aston Martin DBIII

By the film it had become a DB5. In the book the 'extras' were switches to alter the type and colour of the lights in case he's being followed at night, lots of concealed space to fool Customs, a radio to track a 'Homer', reinforced steel bumpers and a long-barelled Colt 45 under the seat. No ejector seats! Corgi brought out a 'Bond' model Aston Martin DB5 that included all the gadgets, bullet proof shield, detailed interior, ejector seat and guns. My friend had one, and how I coveted it!

Answer: The Locomotive

He considered it 'a means of locomotion' and kept it out of doors in all weathers and insisted that it start every time (he did have it serviced every month, though!)

Answer: Lancia

From 1957 to 1970, it was Lancia's most prestigious car, and 'Tracy' (La Comtesse Teresa di Vincenzo) won because of the superior road-holding of the Lancia and her brilliant driving. The Lancia was the car James was driving when his brand new bride was shot and killed by Blofeld.

Answer: Toyopet

After the war, Japan continued making automobiles with enthusiasm, and Toyota made a small 1 litre sedan to appeal to the domestic market. It was very favourably received and acquired the nickname 'Toyopet'. The next model (which I suspect was what Bond was picked up in) was the 1500cc Toyopet Super.