But the DB III had the advantage of an up-to-date triptyque: these included switches to alter the type and colour of Bond’s front and rear lights if he was following or being followed at night, reinforced steel bumpers, fore and aft, in case he needed to ram, a long-barreled Colt 45 in a trick compartment under the driver’s seat, a radio pick-up tuned to receive a radio station called the Homer, and plenty of concealed space that would fox most Customs men.” Either of the cars would have suited his cover – a well-to-do, rather adventurous young man with a taste for the good, the fast things of life. In the book, he offered the following description: “Bond had been offered the Aston Martin or a Jaguar 3.4. Prior to that, Bond had been driving Bentleys. When Ian Fleming’s novel Goldfinger was published in 1959, he provided James Bond with an Aston Martin for the first time.

Revolving number plates (BMT 216A – UK, 4711-EA-62 – France and LU 6789 – Switzerland).

Cartridge for smoke screen released through the exhaust pipes.

Triple spiked nails (calthrops) from the offside rear light cluster.

Oil slick ejector from nearside rear light cluster.

Passenger ejector seat – roof panel jettisoned just before the seat is fired.

Radar scanner in racing type wing mirror, tracking screen in the cockpit.

Radio telephone concealed in secret door compartment.

Front and rear extending over-rider rams.

When Bond’s old Bentley could no longer cut the ice, ‘Q’ Department came up with this classic British sports car, fully loaded with optional extras…

007 casino royale car