V8 Vantage and Volante from 'The Living Daylights'

James Bond's car (B549 WUU) in the 1987 film 'The Living Daylights' is somewhat confusing. At the beginning of the film, the car is a V8 Vantage Volante (convertible), complete with Vantage badges.

The car used in these scenes was a preproduction Vantage Volante owned by Aston Martin Lagonda chairman, Victor Gauntlett. Later, the car is fitted with a hardtop ("winterised") at Q Branch, and these scenes feature a pair of non-Vantage V8 saloons, fitted with the same number plate and Vantage badges as the initial car. Clearly, the later cars are intended to be the same Volante.

For the last few Roger Moore films, specialised cars were again sadly lacking. Once Timothy Dalton appeared in The Living Daylights, things were about to get back to normal. Bond returned in an Aston Martin V8 Vantage along with a soft-topped Volante. The car was equipped with 'laser guns' in the wheels, out-riggers for 'skiing', automatic, self inflating, spiked tyres, jet propulsion and the usual concealed guns.

The alterations and gadgets featured were:

• Tire Spikes
• Jet engine behind rear number plate
• Retractable outriggers
• Heat-seeking missiles behind fog lights
• Lasers in front wheel hubcaps
• Bulletproof windows
• Fireproof body
• Self-destruct system