Top Bond Car? Quirky Citroen 2CV!

Visitors to the Bond in Motion exhibition at the British National Motor Museum could also enjoy Simply Bond, where owners of vehicles similar to those that have appeared in the films, had the chance to show them off.

Some unusual, some striking

There were Aston Martin DB5s, as seen in Goldenfinger and Goldeneye, Lotus Esprits, Triumph Stags (Diamonds Are Forever), a Sunbeam Alpine and the submarine car from The Spy Who Loved Me.

There were more Aston Martins – DBS and Vanquish – alongside a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, BMW Z5 and a number of Mustangs.

As the marque most associated with James Bond, the Aston Martin Owners’ Club also provided its support to the event – with an extra display of 40 cars.

A cavalcade of 20 Simply Bond participants made their way through the Beaulieu grounds before the three most popular cars were line-up, as voted by visitors to the show, for the People’s Choice award.

Top 'bond car'

While Karl Kittlety (Aston Martin DB6) and Julia Howorth (Aston Martin DB3) were voted the runners-up, the winner was slightly less predictable.

Jim Gibson’s Citroen 2CV, as featured in For Your Eyes Only, complete with 007 lettering, a gun and bullet hole decals.

Gibson received a People’s Choice special edition Beaulieu Trophy, commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Beaulieu attraction, and the runners-up received a bottle of Beaulieu Bubbly.