If 007 were American, what would he drive?

With the new trailers for the upcoming 25th James Bond film coming out, and  prominently featuring the infamous Aston Martin, it got me to wondering....if 007, weren't British, what would he drive? If the Bond franchise had been an American invention back in say, 1963, what make/model of car would  a US version of Q branch have chosen to outfit their top rank of agents with, back in the early/mid '60's? Remember, muscle cars weren't really a thing yet back then - the Mustang was just about to come out, but the Camaro was years away, and really, a secret agent needs something a little more .... upscale.

A Cadillac? No, too big, heavy, and flashy, Cadillac wasn't really into performance back then, it was all about luxury. Same thing with Lincoln. Something mid-size, but with good lines, available performance, upscale, refined,smooth, fast....classy.

I'm thinking - Thunderbird, maybe Galaxie 500, GTO, something like that. Remember, early '60's, there wasn't a huge selection of performance cars from the Big Three. They were still getting the '50's out of their systems and hadn't hit the era of 426 Hemis, 289 Hi Po's, or BB Chevy's yet.  

Well, if 007 was American instead of British, he'd be kind of relaxed and down to earth.  

I'd say he'd drive a truck.

In reply to Mr_Asa :

Thank you for the horrifying mental image of 007 rolling coal.

If classy, he'd drive a ctsv, possibly a c8 corvette. Back in the 60s I can see him driving a split window. The flip up headlights are begging for missiles. POSSIBLY a shelby cobra if he was feeling badass. 

1963? There is only one option. The one the astronauts were driving.

If not that, then a special RPO Impala.

"A special 427 cu in (7.0 L) version of the 409 cu in (6.7 L) engine was used in the 1963 Chevrolet Impala Sport Coupe, ordered under Chevrolet Regular Production Option (RPO) Z11. This was a special package created for drag racers and NASCAR and included a 427 with aluminum body parts and a cowl-induction air intake system."

Corvette the whole time

A Jeep, duh.

In reply to Dave M (Forum Supporter) :

Well, in the books, Bond's American friend Felix Leiter drove a Thunderbird. Of course, Bond himself drove a Bentley in the books (except in Goldfinger where he drove a DB III). But I have to think that if you asked Ian Fleming this question back in the 50s, he'd say a Thunderbird.

What American 007?

In reply to Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter) :

yea, but if you asked less than a decade later, I do think it would be a vette.  The images of the cars took such divergent directions....  And it would have been equally emotional for Bond to go back an get a split window coupe as it was to get his DB5 in the recent film.

The Bentley in the books more about the pre-war image of their cars than where they went.  So the change to Aston Martin made a lot of sense.

Brett_Murphy (Forum Patrón) said:

1963? There is only one option. The one the astronauts were driving.

 

If not that, then a special RPO Impala.

"A special 427 cu in (7.0 L) version of the 409 cu in (6.7 L) engine was used in the 1963 Chevrolet Impala Sport Coupe, ordered under Chevrolet Regular Production Option (RPO) Z11. This was a special package created for drag racers and NASCAR and included a 427 with aluminum body parts and a cowl-induction air intake system."

I was thinking thunderbird, for the mix of performance and sophistication, but I can't disagree with this. 

Jensen Interceptor

In 1963, a Buick Riviera seems more likely than a Corvette to me, as Bond was supposed to be driving Bentleys.

what year range ?

from the 60s until today  nothing but a 60s Vette works , 

or a wood size Ford Ranch Wagon if he was undercover !

Starting in the 50s probably a Kaiser Darrin or Studebaker

An Impala or Camry or something. Because real intelligence agents' goal is to NOT be noticed ;)

Of course, the best (worst) American Special agent did have the perfect car...Sunbeam Tiger. Euro style with the American power (Maxwell Smart)

irish44j (Forum Supporter) said:

An Impala or Camry or something. Because real intelligence agents' goal is to NOT be noticed ;)

This.

I hated that movie "drive" for many reasons, terrible acting, terrible story but the best part was the getaway driver using a very recognizable car.

Want to hide?

Silver Honda Accord. 

As for Jimbo (he's American after all) I have to agree with the '63 Riv. Best example of the American "gentleman's express" 

In reply to pres589 (djronnebaum) :

A pre-war blower Bentley is not the loafing luxo-barge we all know today.

Easy to put a bunch gatlin guns in the frunk of a Corvair. James did drive a Mustang in Diamonds Are Forever and an AMC in Man With The Golden Gun. 

I've never understood the idea that an international spy would want to stand out and drive a flashy car.  In reality, he would want to blend in with the crowd.  He would drive something that could disappear into traffic, not a supercar.

rustyvw said:

I've never understood the idea that an international spy would want to stand out and drive a flashy car.  In reality, he would want to blend in with the crowd.  He would drive something that could disappear into traffic, not a supercar.

It all depends on the area he is in and how he is blending in.  Like the Brosnan one where he had (i think) a 7 series BMW for the streets of Europe, or when he has a jeep for offroading, or the truly staggering amount of FoMoCo vehicles he drives.