Aston Martin V8

The Aston Martin V8 is featured in The Living Daylights (1987) and once again in No Time To Die (2021).

The Living Daylights

James Bond drives the Aston Martin V8 in The Living Daylights and the car features several gadgets.

Bond actually drives two Aston Martins in this film, though they are supposed to be the same car.

At the beginning of the film, the car is a V8 Volante (convertible) manual, with some Vantage badges and upgrades. The actual car used in these scenes was a preproduction Volante owned by Aston Martin Lagonda chairman, Victor Gauntlett.

Later, the car is supposedly fitted with a hardtop "winterised" by Q-Branch. However, these scenes actually feature a pair of non-Vantage Series IV V8 saloons, with automatic transmission, retrofitted with the same number plate and Vantage badges as the car in the beginning.

The number on the license plate of Bond's Aston Martin V8 Vantage is "B549 WUU".

The car is fitted with a Philips DC954 Car Radio that is modified by Q.

No Time To Die

James Bond (Daniel Craig) makes good use of his V8 in No Time To Die. James Bond retrieves his Aston Martin V8 from a garage storage. Bond drives it in London (to MI6 headquarters and to Q's apartment) and in Norway. 

In No Time To Die 3 cars were used, created from one V8 Saloon Series III automatic, one V8 Series IV automatic and one V8 Vantage Series II manual.

A 1981 Aston Martin V8, one of just three modified specifically for James Bond’s No Time To Die and driven by Daniel Craig in the film, will be auctioned by Christies during the 60 Years of Bond live auction. This Aston Martin V8 was exclusively modified for the latest James Bond film, No Time To Die and was filmed on location in Norway, Italy, London, Scotland and Windsor. In the film, the car has the same registration as the car that played a key role in Timothy Dalton’s The Living Daylights.

“The V8 is a car I have always loved. Aston Martin’s cars are beautiful works of art and have become a quintessential part of a Bond film.” Cary Fukunaga, Director, No Time To Die.

The Aston Martin V8 features a V8 5343cc engine alongside a 5-speed manual gearbox to maximise its dynamic capability. The body panels are all made from aluminium, while the handcrafted interior has been made using Connolly leather.

With thanks to Mike Smith for the details about the cars used in the films