Assouline’s James Bond Cars

This lavish book takes readers deep inside the vehicles of Bond.

James Bond Cars by Assouline is the most complete and visually striking book ever produced on 007’s vehicles — a large-format collector’s piece built for display, not the shelf.

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At over 300 pages and curated by long-time Bond special-effects supervisor Chris Corbould, it covers every era of the films with rare photography, production detail, and behind-the-scenes insight.

At £100/$120 it’s not a casual purchase.

But for Bond fans who care about how these cars were created — and what they represent — it’s one of the standout books ever released.

From ejector seats to amphibious Lotuses, James Bond’s cars have always been more than just transport. Like many Bond fans of a certain age, my first experience of 007’s cars was the Corgi Aston Martin DB5. It came in a smart blue-and-yellow box, complete with a tiny suited figure who could be ejected through the roof, and machine guns that popped from behind the front indicators. Long before I saw Goldfinger, I knew the DB5 and all its secrets. That now battered toy was the gateway to the promise of adventure, danger, and impeccable taste.

James Bond Cars, from luxury publisher Assouline, puts those vehicles in the spotlight with the reverence they deserve. Released in December 2025 as the third volume in Assouline’s authorised “007 Trilogy”, the book is curated by Chris Corbould, the special-effects mastermind behind some of Bond’s most memorable stunts.

Spanning from Dr No (1962) to No Time to Die (2021), this large format hardback promises more than just glamour shots of Aston Martins within its more than 300 pages. With over 200 images—including rare behind-the-scenes stills and technical drawings—it’s the most detailed survey of Bond’s machines ever assembled.

Bond’s signature car, the silver birch 1964 Aston Martin DB5, debuted in Goldfinger (1964).

The DB5, naturally, takes pole position. The silver birch classic, first seen in Goldfinger, reappears throughout the series, complete with front-wing machine guns, tyre slashers, and rear smoke screens. Looking through the book, at least one of the ideas for the DB5 in No Time to Die’s Matera chase sequence is so over the top, the decision to discard it was completely right.

The film crew from No Time To Die (2021) during a stunt scene with an Aston Martin DB5.

But James Bond Cars widens the lens far beyond MI6’s favourite grand tourer. It includes everything from the rocket-firing “Little Nellie” autogyro to a tuk-tuk converted for street combat in Octopussy – and everything in between. The book moves through the series film by film, with numerous double-page spreads. Some, like Goldfinger, understandably receive more attention than others. While many of the images will be familiar to long-time Bond fans, there are also plenty I’d never seen before.

The Hornet X hatchback in a midair “Astro Spiral” jump over a broken Thai bridge from a scene in The Man With A Golden Gun (1974).

These include the stunning Toyota 2000GT convertible from You Only Live Twice, produced specially to accommodate Sean Connery’s height, and Diana Rigg’s cardinal-red Mercury Cougar XR-7 from On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. There’s the red AMC Hornet’s gravity-defying “Astro Spiral” from The Man With The Golden Gun, a feat calculated using early computer tech and captured in a single take. The Lotus Esprit that, at the flip of a switch, turned into a submarine in The Spy Who Loved Me also earns due tribute. And the fiery climax of Licence To Kill, involving a dozen 18-wheel tankers tearing through the Mexican desert, is remembered as one of the most dangerous Bond stunts ever filmed.

Sketches of the submarine cars from Sir Ken Adam, Bond production designer.

Even mishaps get their spotlight. In Live And Let Die, 17 of the 26 boats used in the Louisiana chase were wrecked during rehearsals. The final stunt, a record-setting speedboat leap across a highway, became legendary—and boosted Glastron sales worldwide.

Chris Corbould, who has worked on fifteen Bond films and earned a Guinness World Record for the explosion in SPECTRE, offers insider commentary throughout the book. His perspective is as technical as it is personal, having spent decades crafting the cinematic mayhem that makes Bond’s action sequences iconic.

Xenia Onatopp, portrayed by Famke Janssen in GoldenEye (1995), in her red Ferrari F355 GT, marking the first time a Ferrari appears in a Bond film.

Why this over other James Bond car books?

Most James Bond car books fall into one of two categories: either lightweight overviews, or technical guides focused on specifications.

James Bond Cars sits in a different space entirely.

• Large-format, luxury production (Assouline standard)
• Curated by the films’ own special effects supervisor
• Focused on how the cars function within the films, not just what they are

At around £100, it’s priced accordingly — but that reflects what it is: a collector’s piece, not a reference book.

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For collectors, the limited-edition “007 Trilogy” brushed aluminium slipcase housing James Bond Cars, James Bond Destinations, and James Bond Style. Inspired by the sleek design and innovation of 007’s world, it includes a raised 007 emblem and weighs in a total of 10.5 kg – that’s 23 lbs.

The Wallis WA-116 Agile autogyro, affectionately known as “Little Nellie.”

Bond fans with a taste for behind-the-scenes detail, vehicular gadgetry, or simply the romance of a car chase across exotic terrain will find this book as essential as a Walther PPK. As Corbould himself notes, these machines are more than props—they’re central to the wider James Bond lifestyle.

That said, the price tag may steer some fans away. At £100 ($120/€120), it’s a serious investment—and even more so for those eyeing the full slipcased trilogy.

James Bond Cars is available for purchase direct from Assouline’s website. The James Bond Dossier may earn a small fee if you purchase using the affiliate links below.

With its large-format photography and premium production, James Bond Cars also makes an excellent present. If you’re looking for more ideas, see the full guide to the best James Bond gifts.

For Bond fans who want the most complete and visually striking record of 007’s vehicles, this is as close as it gets to a definitive edition.

It’s not cheap. It’s not meant to be.

But if you want a Bond book that feels like an object in its own right, this is the one to own.

Check availability at Assouline

Images and book details provided by Assouline.