23 replies to this topic

[zencat]

Here's one for marktmurphy (and our other Bond car nuts).

James Bond's First Aston Martin 'SilverFin' introduces us to an all-new (old) Bond car

[zencat]

When I first read Higson's description of his car, I thought he had put young Bond into the same make and model car that later became Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. LOL.

Actually, I thought that would have been kind of clever.

[Qwerty]

Interesting read. Nice to hear a bit about it then, as well as some cool pics.

Can't wait to read about it in the book.

[marktmurphy]

Cheers mate- great work.

[zencat]

Actually, Dave Worall (who we all know is THE man to talk to about all things Aston Martin) doesn't feel this car can be considered "James Bond's first Aston Martin" because it still carries the name Bamford & Martin (although it's the same company, and even Higson refers to it as an "Aston Martin" at one point in the book). Technically, he's right, I guess. But then that takes away all the fun.

[Righty007]

This is great, zencat!

[Hawkeye]

perhaps i'm just being thick, but i didn't recognise some of those stories in italics. clue me in zen. (there's going to be an answer to this that will make me look like a thickie isn't there).
h

[zencat]

perhaps i'm just being thick, but i didn't recognise some of those stories in italics. clue me in zen. (there's going to be an answer to this that will make me look like a thickie isn't there).
h

You mean like Permission To Die, Light of My Death, and A Silent Armageddon? Those were all graphic novels (and don't feel "thick," I expect even those familar with the graphic novels haven't heard of Light of My Death). Permission To Die should really be credited with returning the DB5 to the Bond world

[AMWebby]

The site featured wasn't the Aston Martin official site either, but a New Zealand Aston Martin site. The official Aston Martin site is based in the UK (naturallY) and you can also read the history of Aston Martin on the AMOC site.

Oh, and there never was a Bamford and Martin, despite the fact that Robert Bamford and Lionel Martin were the founders. They were all called Aston-Martin or Aston Martin. The name comes from the Aston Clinton hill climb, where Lionel Martin enjoyed success with his modified Singer and it was decided to append Martin's name to Aston in order that the car company's name might appear at the top of an alphabetical list of car manufacturers.

Edited by AMWebby, 09 March 2005 - 11:49 PM.

[00-FAN008]

You are all going to twist off my head, down my neck, and skull[censored] me for saying this, but I think that's an ugly-looking old car. I mean, I know it's old and everything, but... blech. Now let me hide in a breadbox before all the car-nuts decide destroy my perfect set of teeth.

[Hawkeye]

Thanks for clueing me in Zen. I just surfed over to mi6 and would you believe it, they've been reviewing 'permission to die'. I really should open my eye a bit more.

[zencat]

The site featured wasn't the Aston Martin official site either, but a New Zealand Aston Martin site. The official Aston Martin site is based in the UK (naturallY) and you can also read the history of Aston Martin on the AMOC site.

Oh, and there never was a Bamford and Martin, despite the fact that Robert Bamford and Lionel Martin were the founders. They were all called Aston-Martin or Aston Martin. The name comes from the Aston Clinton hill climb, where Lionel Martin enjoyed success with his modified Singer and it was decided to append Martin's name to Aston in order that the car company's name might appear at the top of an alphabetical list of car manufacturers.

Thanks for the clarification, AMWebby.

[AMWebby]

That's OK Zencat. Had my Astonista pedant's hat on last night!

On a 007 pedantic note, why would the young Bond drive an Aston Martin? The DB III (no such car BTW, Fleming probably meant a DB2 MkIII) was given to Bond by Q branch. Bond's personal transport was always a Bentley. Surely a background story about the family Bentley that Bond crashes in Casino Royale would be more apt?

[zencat]

That's OK Zencat. Had my Astonista pedant's hat on last night!

On a 007 pedantic note, why would the young Bond drive an Aston Martin? The DB III (no such car BTW, Fleming probably meant a DB2 MkIII) was given to Bond by Q branch. Bond's personal transport was always a Bentley. Surely a background story about the family Bentley that Bond crashes in Casino Royale would be more apt?

Oh, there's that too. LOL.

Aunt Charmain drives the Bently Bond will later own in Casino Royale. His Uncle Max keeps the extra Aston in the garage. He's what Higson had to say about the cars from our interview.

Q: Is the Bentley Aunt Charmian drives the same car Bond drives in the Fleming books?

CH: It certainly is. I put an early Aston Martin in the book as well, for film fans, but I knew there had to be some mention of the Bentley for people who know Bond from the books (it also appears in From Russia With Love at the start of the movie when Connery is indulging in a spot of

[AMWebby]

I was joking about the 'family' Bentley and it appears rightly so, since as stated the 4 1/2 litre in Casino Royale was purchased by Bond in 1933. His next Bentley is a 1953 Mk VI, acquired after the 4 1/2 litre is finally written off in Moonraker.

Finally in Thunderball Bond acquires a Bentley Continental, which he has modified to an open two seater.

So which of these is Aunt Charmain's Bentley? Confused. Indeed I am!

[zencat]

I believe Higgy is saying Aunt Charmain's Bentley is the 4 1/2 litre from Casino Royale, and that he'll cover Bond's purchase of this car in a later book.

[AMWebby]

So, Bond purchased it from his Aunt? I suppose that would work. I can't remember offhand if it specified where Bond purchased it, just that it was in 1933 and the car is a 1930 4 1/2. Aunt Charmain obviously didn't get on with it too well then!

[marktmurphy]

That's OK Zencat. Had my Astonista pedant's hat on last night!

On a 007 pedantic note, why would the young Bond drive an Aston Martin? The DB III (no such car BTW, Fleming probably meant a DB2 MkIII) was given to Bond by Q branch. Bond's personal transport was always a Bentley. Surely a background story about the family Bentley that Bond crashes in Casino Royale would be more apt?

<Cough>, if you don't mind; I'll be borrowing that hat for a brief while! Although you're right to say there's no DB III, I think I'm right in saying the car is known as an Aston Martin DB Mk III (no DB2 identifier; although it was of course part of that range). Of course I understand the inherent dangers in quibbling about Astons with the webmaster of amoc.org, but...

And as Bond chooses the Aston over the other motors in Q's garage such as a Jaguar etc. I think it's fair to put a little reason as to why he likes the brand in there.

[Simon]

Seeing as Book 2 is set in Sardina, maybe young Bond will next drive an early Lotus.

Excellent!

[AMWebby]

You are correct marktmurphy, The DB Mk III was the successor to the DB2/4 Mk II, which I confused in my late night, Lagavulin-befuddled mind.

It is true Bond chose the Aston Martin over the other cars in Q's pool, but isn't that a bit like choosing a company car? You may not like any of them and so you'll choose the best of a bad bunch.

[Blofeld's Cat]

Seeing as Book 2 is set in Sardina, maybe young Bond will next drive an early Lotus.

Excellent!

Funny, Bond never mentions in The Spy Who Loved Me about his earlier visit to Sardinia.

[Qwerty]

Seeing as Book 2 is set in Sardina, maybe young Bond will next drive an early Lotus.

The learning to drive scenes in the book have been handled pretty well I think so far. Nice to see he didn't overdo anything.

[Bill Tanner]

The DB Mk III was the successor to the DB2/4 Mk II...

Since this seems to be the pedants corner I thought I may as well chip in with my tuppennyworth:

I believe that DB MkIII is indeed correct, with a DB3 being the race car - though you'd have to be quite strict to not let Fleming have it his way. Let's not forget that Fleming's Bond didn't seem to feel any particular affinity with the Aston Martin marque, only choosing it over the Jaguar 3.4 for it's more discreet colour and novel extras in the form of reinforced bumpers, secret compartments etc. In fact, EON's Bond didn't seem too keen on the idea of the car replacing his beloved Bentley either.

AMWebby is right of course in attributing the name of Aston Martin to the so-called Bamford Martin. The photos shown were incorrectly attributed to Ecurie Bertelli, when in fact they were lifted from the book Aston Martin by Rainer W. Schlegelmilch and Hartmut Lehbrink. The original photos clearly show the name Aston Martin on the running boards and spare wheel holder. Again, you'd have to be a little unfair on Mr. Higson not to let him have it his way as it comes down to a question of interpretation really, and in his defence it was only the character of uncle Max who named the car as a Bamford, not the author. I for one applaud Higson's diligence and admire his veiled approach in giving a sideways wink to the film series.

I'm still a little sceptical about Aunt Charmian's Bentley. Only 55 examples of the original 4.5 litre 'Blowers' were built (although records seem to be sketchy, this must have been between between 1929 and 1930). Fleming originally stated that Bond bought the car 'almost new' in 1933 (he subsequently gave varying dates and details for the car and it's purchase). Ok, let's let him have that one too - but what was Aunt Charmian doing in such a limited-production, supercharged, 240bhp race special? It must have been quite a brute to drive. Is she a closet 'Brooklands-Babe'? It should prove interesting finding out how Mr. Higson makes the link, but there was an interesting name-check for Tim Birkin - one of the original Bentley Boys - whose pet project the Blower Bentley was.
Oh, Aunt Charmian... what have you been up to?

Edited by Bill Tanner, 03 May 2005 - 05:09 PM.

[zencat]

The photos shown were incorrectly attributed to Ecurie Bertelli, when in fact they were lifted from the book Aston Martin by Rainer W. Schlegelmilch and Hartmut Lehbrink. The original photos clearly show the name Aston Martin on the running boards and spare wheel holder.

Oh? I didn't know they came from this book. I got them from the Ecurie Bertelli website (with permission). Had I known, I would have credited the book as well. Whoops. Sorry.

On a more positive note, I see the Bamford is included in the Kev Walker illustration of Uncle Max on the Young Bond website. Looks to be from the same images we have here.