Bond in Motion, the largest collection of original James Bond vehicles in the world, based at the London Film Museum in Covent Garden is celebrating 30 years of The Living Daylights.
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
Timothy Dalton played 007 in the 15th film from the iconic series and the film was a worldwide hit when released in the summer of 1987.
Behind the scenes – Special Effects Supervisor Chris Corbould (right) has worked on virtually every Bond movie since The Spy Who Loved Me. Here the Aston Martin shell is being fitted with compressed air for the jump over the hut. Photo credit: © 1987 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. and Danjaq, LLC.
As with all Bond films, The Living Daylights featured state-of-the-art gadgets and audacious action sequences.
During filming in Austria, 007’s new Aston Martin performed a high-speed chase on an ice lake. A dramatic crash ensued before Bond flicked the self-destruct switch. The car had “a few optional extras installed” including:
- Jet engine booster rocket, behind the rear number plate
- Ice tyres with spikes emerging through the treads
- Retractable outriggers for use on snow and ice, which emerge from the sills
- A pair of heat seeking missiles concealed behind the fog lights
- Laser beams built into the front hubcaps
- Heads-up display
- Police band scanner radio
- Self-destruct system
Following the crash and dramatic explosion, Bond escaped across the border on a cello case that doubled as a sled. The case was made of fibreglass, had skis on the bottom and control handles on the sides. Special Effects Supervisor John Richardson recalls: “As long as you made sure there was nothing at the bottom of the hill they were liable to crash into, it was actually quite fun to ride it down.”
James Bond & Kara (Timothy Dalton & Maryam d’Abo) on the cello sled
Behind the scenes – Bond & Kara show their passports as they make their escape in a cello case; the camera operator is on a toboggan. Photo credit: © 1987 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. and Danjaq, LLC.
London Film Museum Founder and CEO, Jonathan Sands said: “Now in its fourth year, Bond in Motion has grown and evolved as we continue to add previously unseen exhibits. There are no replicas – every item displayed is an original used for filming.
Aston Martin V8 Vantage in The Living Daylights
“2017 is a fantastic year for Bond with four special milestones. In addition to celebrating 30 years of The Living Daylights we marked the 50th anniversary of You Only Live Twice on June 12 by adding new props and a new exhibit that focuses on production art. Later this year we’ll be commemorating the 40th anniversary of The Spy Who Loved Me and the 20th anniversary of Tomorrow Never Dies.”
Aston Martin V8 Vantage in The Living Daylights
The hero cello case sled that Special Effects Supervisor John Richardson refers to is on display along with the Aston Martin V8 Vantage at the Bond in Motion exhibition.
- Bond in Motion at the London Film Museum is the largest collection of James Bond vehicles in the world
- Exhibition features over 100 original artefacts spanning all 24 Bond films including vehicles, miniatures, concept art and storyboards
- Film items on display include Aston Martin V8 Vantage and cello case sled used in The Living Daylights
The London Film Museum is located at 45 Wellington Street, Covent Garden and is open seven days a week.
Aston Martin V8 Vantage & Cello Sled on display at Bond in Motion, London Film Museum
Tickets are available from www.londonfilmmuseum.com and www.ticketmaster.co.uk.
