‘Bond in Motion’ at Spy Museum: Cars Are the Stars
By February 29, 2024 0 1314
•The International Spy Museum which moved to L’Enfant Plaza in 2019, displays at its entrance the most beautiful silver car—none other than an Aston Martin DB5 with the license plate JB007 that appeared in the 1964 James Bond thriller “Goldfinger.”
But there’s more than meets the eye. While JB007 does not have power steering, automatic handbrake and the other expected features, this ultimate in spy car was fully loaded with machine guns, tire slashers, bulletproof shields, oil jets, dashboard radar screen, rotating license plate and an ejector seat.
With its special exhibit, “Bond in Motion,” opening tomorrow and running to April of next year, the Spy Museum continues its tradition of presenting amazing artifacts along with the role they play in the history of espionage.
Featuring 17 iconic pieces over six decades of 007 vehicles from the EON Productions Archive and the Ian Fleming Foundation, the exhibit is a wonderland for spydom fans.
Car lovers will recognize the Aston Martin Vanquish and the bright green Jaguar XKR from from “Die Another Day” (2002), the Aston Martin DBS from “Quantum of Solace” (2008), and the AMC Hornet from “Man with the Golden Gun” (1974) .
“Bond in Motion” includes not only these eye-stopping cars but spy vehicles for speedy getaways in thrilling escapades to tell the daring feats of the world’s most famous movie spy. There is Tuk Tuk from “Octopussy” (1983), the submarine from “For Your Eyes Only” (1981), a Glastron Boat with gadgets and a hand glider from “Moonraker” (1979) and the the snowmobile from “Die Another Day” (2002).
Check out this video preview of “Bond in Motion here:
These dazzling vehicles in James Bond films have thrilled audiences with daring feats.
“The first taste the public gets of espionage is through pop culture — the movies, TV series, and books that animate our imaginations and encourage our audiences to dream big,” says Amanda Ohlke, Director of Adult Programming at the International Spy Museum. “Even real intelligence agencies devising spy tools have found inspiration through these captivating gadget-filled movies and vehicles, sometimes propelling fictional inventions from fantasy into reality.”
In a walk among these classic old vehicles that were futuristic in their time, we might reminisce about the glamorous stars who thrilled us in high-speed chases. At “Bond in Motion,” these spectacular vehicles, still glowing — their shimmering sequins on a boat or the high-polished red gloss of vintage cars — are the stars of the movies.
Props, scale models and clips from the films are also on show alongside cars, motorcycles, submarines and more from the Q Branch garage.
The exhibit includes the museum’s popular “Shark Tank” interactive, clips from the film franchise, and two totally new interactives. Yes, there is now opportunity to take a selfie with once was only viewed in theater screens.
To get a clue as to what to expect, visit spymuseum.org/bond-in-motion.