In the world of espionage, time is always running out hence the need to move around quickly. And there’s no better way to do that than by the use of automotive masterpieces. So far, the James Bond franchise has featured plenty of four-wheeled beauties. And with both the MI6 and villains having huge budgets, most of the cars haven’t been cheap.
Most of the expensive Bond cars are on the wishlists of petrolheads but unfortunately, not everyone can afford to show up to work in an Aston Martin DB10 or speed through the streets in a Jaguar C-X75. Luckily, there are several reasonably priced cars in the franchise that the average-income Bond fan can purchase.
Citroën 2CV – $8500
In For Your Eyes Only, Bond’s Lotus Esprit gets destroyed when he gets captured by hitman Hector Gonzalez. Melina Havelock then frees him and together, they escape her Citroën 2 2CV.
Fans looking to navigate winding roads and lush scenery like Bond and Melisa do in the movie can part with a small sum to get the Citroën 2. It’s unique, compared to most modern cars as it has it only has a two-tax horsepower. It has a special place in history too as it was the first car to be made to influence farmers to stop using horses as they had done for centuries.
Renault 11 – $6,900
One of the best chase scenes in the James Bond franchise happens in Paris in A View To Kill. Bond commanders a Renault 11 taxi, driving it past the Eiffel Tower and through the streets. The chase ends with the roof getting chopped off.
The Renault 11 might look slow but speed lovers ought not to worry about it since Bond proved that it can fly if the right person is on the wheel. There aren’t many available in the market at the moment but the few that can be found are quite cheap. With a few additional touches, it can provide the perfect Bond experience.
Ford Mondeo – $5,000
To find out details about the mysterious text in Casino Royale, Bond flies to the Bahamas using a water plane then drives to the Ocean Club using a Ford Mondeo. There’s he causes a disturbance at the parking before going through security footage.
Though Bond drives it all alone to go cause mischief, the Mondeo is considered a family car. Its 1.6-liter tank makes it one of the most fuel-efficient cars out there. It also comes in a 5-Speed Manual or 6-Speed Automatic. And despite not being a costly car, it’s beautiful enough to fit right in with top models, something that became evident at the Ocean Club parking lot.
Ford Taunus – $5,500
Jaws, one of the best James Bond henchmen, pursues Bond in Ford Taunus in The Spy Who Loved Me, The henchman and his colleagues go after Bond through the wavy highways of Sardinia when an assassination attempt by a hitman on a modified Kawasaki Z 900 fails.
Jaws and his fellow gunmen would have had no problem putting gas on the Taunus since their boss is quite wealthy but the ordinary citizen will appreciate the vehicle more because it only has a 1.3 Litre R4 engine. There is a good reason why it easily kept up with Bond’s Lotus Espirit too, as it has a top speed of 168 km/h (104 mph). With these features, the car sure is a bargain.
AMC Hornet – $4950
Eager to not lose one of the wealthiest Bond villains, Francisco Scaramanga, in The Man With The Golden Gun, Agent 007 rushes into a dealership in Thailand. There, he steals an AMC Hornet and gets on the road.
The stunt where Bond jumps over a bridge using the vehicle might a bit complicated for potential Hornet owners to replicate but they can be guaranteed a smooth drive, thanks to the 4-Speed manual transmission system. Getting a Hornet in a dealership like Bond does might prove challenging today but there are several locally used ones available for cheap.
1996 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado J90 – $12,000
In No Time To Die, Bond tries to protect Madeleinand his daughter when Safin comes for them in Norway. He puts them in a Prado J90 and speeds through rough terrain as the villain’s goons follow him.
Car & Driver states that the Prado J90 is no longer available for sale in the U.S but it’s very affordable in other countries. It’s the cheapest car in the movie but also one of the most efficient ones, moving at a top speed of 111 mph (180 km/h). It’s no surprise that Bond outfoxes Safin’s men so easily.
1982 Dodge Ram – $8,500
In License To Kill, Franz Sanchez’s enforcer pursue Bond in a Dodge Ram when he commandeers a fuel tanker belonging to the antagonist. Unfortunately for them, they drive off a cliff.
How the car is quickly used and discarded in the movie does little to market it as something worth buying but it sure is pocket-friendly. With its 175 hp (130 kW), owners will find a better use for it than high-speed chases. The only disadvantage is that with its 5.21 Litre V8, it’s not fuel-efficient.
Peugeot 504 – $9,000
Henchmen guarding the estate of Hector Gonzales chase after Bond and Melina in a Peugeot 504 when they escape from the compound. Events happen in For Your Eyes Only.
The Peugeot’s top speed of 156 km/h (97 Mph) isn’t exactly high, hence the reason Bond and Melissa manage to get away so easily. Nonetheless, it’s affordable and ideal enough for anyone who isn’t a super spy or henchman. The car either comes in 1.8 Litre L4 engine or a 2.0 Litre L4, both of which are on the economical end.
Maserati Biturbo 425i – $8,300
In License To Kill, Sanchez mostly uses the Biturbo as his vehicle. As is the case with many crime bosses, he moves around in a low-priced car to avoid drawing the attention of the authorities.
The Biturbo might be pretty enough for a Bond villain to fall in love with it but it received some bad press too. Time Magazine ranked it one of the worst cars of all time. But with a 5-Speed Manual system and 2.5-liter V6 engine, it gets the job done. Anyone wanting to cruise around town like Sanchez won’t have to spend that much.
Leyland Sherpa 240 – $4,000
Jaws drive the Leyland Sherpa in Cairo when he disguises himself as an Egyptian telephone company worker. Later on, the van gets badly damaged during a fight between him and Bond.
Fans of old-school vans will love the Sherpa and its affordability means they can acquire it without having to spend too much time thinking about it. The only problem is that Leyland as a company no longer exists hence parts would be hard to get in case of a breakdown. Nonetheless, it’s still a worthy buy for Bond fans.
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