DALTON BOND CARS IN DIECAST Like the Lazenby DBS, the Dalton Vantage has been largely ignored by diecast manufacturers. This is a shame, as the big Astons styling is quite attractive. With or without gadgets, this would be a welcome addition to the diecast world. |
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The Dalton Era When Roger Moore finally hung up his tux and Walther PPK, the future of Bond was in question. After an unsuccessful attempt to secure upand- coming TV star Pierce Brosnan, veteran actor Timothy Dalton was cast. But with Ian Flemings original writings all but exhausted, no one really knew what to expect for Bond or for how long. Daltons debut as a dark and dour Bond in 1987s The Living Daylights came off quite well. Dalton was something of a throwback to a tough-guy Bond, and the car selected was a throwback, too. For the first time in 18 years, Bond was again behind the wheel of an Aston Martin. In this case, it was the muscle-bound Vantage V8. Like Daltons Bond, the Vantage was a brute. It weighed more than two tons, but 375 horses kept it out front of the bad guys, and Qs gadgets cleared any obstacles in its way. Featured in both coupe and convertible forms, it was one of the meanest-looking Bond cars yet. In 1989, Dalton followed with the disappointing License To Kill, in which the only automotive action involved some ridiculous Peterbilt tanker trucks.
THE BROSNAN ERAAT LAST BMW Z3 UT 1:18* Minichamps 1:43 BMW Z8 Kyosho 1:12 and 1:18* AUTOart 1:18* Minichamps 1:43 ASTON MARTIN VANQUISH Kyosho 1:12 Joyride Studios (RC2) 1:18 Minichamps 1:43 *Out of production |
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The Brosnan EraAt Last As early as 1985, audiences knew that Irishman Pierce Brosnan, the star of the TV series Remington Steele, was the logical heir to the Bond mantle. Film producers knew it, too, but the TV studio to which Brosnan was under contract felt differently, so it would be another decade before Brosnan was issued his license to kill in GoldenEye. There was much buzz about the new 007 partnership with German (!) carmaker BMW in a highly publicized three-picture deal. The Z3 roadster was chosen, and while it was definitely a looker, its performance didnt spark any real fireworks on screen. In the 1997 follow-up, Tomorrow Never Dies, automotive action heated up, but with a pudgy, uncharismatic protagonistthe 750iL. The 7 seriesmore limousine than sports carseemed illcast; it was almost as if another car had been planned but wasnt ready in time. The wow factor returned in 99 with the introduction of the Z8 roadster in The World is Not Enough. The Z8s brief appearance (necessarily so because the movie cars were prototypes) was not enough to salvage the movie, and critics started to question whether the Bond series had at last been played out. Reports of Bonds demise turned out to be greatly exaggerated, however, as the title of Brosnans 2001 final fling as the worlds top secret agent emphatically declared. In Die Another Day, the only thing dead was BMWs deal, and Astonnow owned by Fordwas back where it belonged. The coolest Bond car since the original DB5, the gorgeous Vanquish had curves to rival those of the films femme fatale, Halle Berry. Gadgets galore and a spectacular chase/battle against a wicked Jaguar XKR convertible sporting a mini gun turret across a frozen lake made for some of the most exciting auto action in any Bond film.
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craig bond cars in diecast ASTON MARTIN DBS V12 Joyride Studios (RC2) 1:18 Corgi 1:36 Minichamps 1:43 ASTON MARTIN DB5 (LHD) Minichamps 1:43
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The New Bond Things came full circle with the 2006 remake of Casino Royale. New Bond Daniel Craig brings a welcome ferocity to the role, and the crisp rework of Flemings first Bond novel gives him substance to work with. The vehicular lead has substance, too; the super-secret DBS V12 is as seductive as it is mysterious all the more so because of its minimalist gadgetry. Its screen time is all too brief, but Bond does get to stretch its legs in one scene, and we get a hint of how well it suits the day-to-day requirements of international super-spy transportation. From what we see of it, the new DBS V12 looks capable of heart-stopping action; luckily, it comes with a defibrillator in the glove box! As with virtually all of his equipment, Bond uses the DBS hard, but I hope Q-branch can fix it up so we get to see this exotic Bond beauty again. But whether its the DBS or something new, you can bet that the next Bond car will uphold the tradition of the most recognizable movie-car franchise of all time. |