Friday Roundup: Bond Cars

What are you up to this weekend? We’ve been in the San Francisco Bay Area filming a few different car projects, and we’ll be here through the weekend. We can’t wait to share the videos with you when they’re finished.

We try to post behind-the-scenes photos to our Facebook page as often as we can. Click here to view our Facebook page.

As always, we came across some inspiring automotive-related things on the web this week and would love to share them with you. Fittingly, this week’s roundup relates to Bond cars. Enjoy!

– – –

In honor of the new 007 film’s wide release in the U.S. today (a whole week or two later than in Europe!), we thought we’d share an ingenious site about Bond cars, which is a clever homage to past Bond cars, being designed and executed in a unique, creative, well-designed, animated, and—best of all—a fun way. Car dealership Evans Halshaw, is the behind the project. If we knew who the designers/developers were, we’d give them some major props.

We enjoyed the fun facts about each car, (e.g. “The Defender also makes a brief appearance in The Living Daylights, where it is driven off a cliff” and “Ford supplied a Lincoln Continental for the car compactor scene in exchange for featuring their new model Ford Mustang.”).

Click here to view the site, and then just scroll down to enjoy. Be sure not to miss the “drag to reveal” Easter eggs.

We came across an interview with a Swiss owner of a Toyota 2000GT owner on Auto Neurotic Fixation that we quite enjoyed. Below are some excerpts and photos.

ANF:  Are there any other 2000GT’s in Switzerland?

Luc:  Yes, from the three officially imported in Switzerland in 1968, mine is the only one remaining but there are at least two others in private collections.  One is on display in the museum of the main Toyota importer.  Another one is going to be in a private Toyota Museum soon to be open.

ANF:  As I understand it, it’s quite difficult to be a car owner in Switzerland. Are there any particular difficulties related to owning such an old, rare machine?

Luc:  . . . It’s not a myth, the periodical technical inspection is very strict.  There are two ways to register an old car: you can register it as you would a normal car with inspection every 3 years, or you can register it as a veteran with inspection every five or six years, but then the car must be in perfect state, and I mean like new!  A particularity of Swiss regulation is that the insurance (and the plates) belong to the owner, not the car. This means when you change your car, you keep the number plate.  You can have up to two cars using the same insurance and plate, so we play a game of one plate for two cars with interchangeable supports.  Of course we can drive only one at a time and we need a private parking to keep the second car when it is without plates.  We pay insurance for the most expensive of both cars, and my Previa costs more than the 2000GT anyway.

ANF:  What’s it like to drive?

Luc:  I wish you can ride in a 2000GT once in your life.  The ride is very enjoyable and leaves nobody indifferent.  To drive it, you must be no taller than me (180 cm) or you won’t fit.  The big steering wheel falls right between my knees, touching them.  Even if the steering column is adjustable, space around the body is very limited.  You are in contact with the car’s interior all around, roof top is 2 cm over my head.  It’s cosy but comfortable and practical.  The 2000GT is a GT, meaning it’s made for the road, and that’s where it’s in its element.  Driving on the highway at 200 km/h holding the wheel with one finger is no problem, it goes straight, with perfect handling.  The first ever rack and pinion steering from Toyota works perfectly.  The double wishbone suspension is soft, with long travel when compared to modern sports cars.  The windscreen is so curved, driving with the side windows open at high speed does not increase turbulence in the cockpit.  One must be careful as the brakes are from another era!  Another thing you enjoy all the time in the 2000GT is the fantastic sound of the exhaust. It’s much more luxurious than a Porsche, you feel a lot more secure than in a Jag and finish is far better from what you find in a ‘Vette.

ANF:  How do people react to it?  Do they know what it is or do they assume it’s a Jaguar or Ferrari?

Luc:  Usually people don’t know what it is, they think it’s a unique car or a prototype.  When I say it’s a Toyota, they then ask me if it’s a new model.  It always brings a big interest in car connoisseurs, as it’s often the first time they’ve see one in the metal.  Because of its shape and noise, it’s not a discrete vehicle—one must be prepared to make new acquaintances at every stop.  Women are seduced by its style and Bond heritage.

Click here to read the original interview and see more photos of the 2000GT.

Click here to see the James Bond car chase with the Toyota 2000GT convertible in the 1967 film, You Only Live Once.