Ever since the creation of the James Bond character in 1953, gadgets have always been part of his identity throughout the franchise’s missions. And to ensure that the James Bond actor is always equipped with a suitable kit, Q and his crew of computer boffins ensure that 007’s gadgets are updated and functional. From the industrial laser in Goldfinger; a solar-powered ray-gun in The Man with the Golden Gun; a voice changer in Diamonds are Forever, to an Aston Martin with on-demand camouflage technology in Die Another Day, these gadgets have enabled MI6’s most notable agent to get out of impossible situations. So, let’s get to the bunker and look at some of the best gadgets ever used by 007.

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7 The Exploding Pen

     MGM/UA Distribution Co. Releasing

GoldenEye was a film loaded with gadgets such as the Omega Seamaster watch, grappling belt, X-ray document scanner, and even the Petya satellite. However, one of the fantastic gadgets in this film was the explosive pen, which was a pivotal device. In the movie’s climax, the villain, Alec Trevelyan, tries to crack Natalya’s codes while twirling and clicking Bond’s pen on his fingers. Unknown to him, one can arm the pen by clicking it three times. Bond knocks it away when he does and uses the explosion to escape. Although the exploding pen looks like a sophisticated ballpoint pen, it is still one of 007’s coolest weapons.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

6 The Golden Gun

     United Artists Releasing

The infamous assassin in The Man with the Golden Gun, Francisco Scaramanga (Christopher Lee), had a signature golden gun built mechanically from different items, including a lighter, a cigarette case, a fountain pen, and a cuff-link. Assembling a gun from unlikely components is what helped Scaramanga escape from a crime scene without suspicion. After the film’s release, kids started to use various items to develop their special guns.

5 The Ericsson Mobile Phone

     MGM Distribution Co. Releasing

The number of tech gadgets and weapons used by the good and bad guys in the movie Tomorrow Never Dies sets it apart from other franchise films. One gadget that stands out is the Ericsson mobile phone that could stun enemies, unlock doors, scan fingerprints, and even drive Bond’s bullet and sledgehammer-proof BMW. Additionally, Bond could control the car’s navigation and firing of weapons through the phone. This setup was new when mobile phones were not yet a thing.

4 Spy Glasses

     MGM/UA Entertainment Co. Releasing

One way to give an agent an edge over adversaries is to use enhanced visual-related devices. For example, in A View to a Kill, James Bond uses polarizing sunglasses to see through a tinted window. You can also pick out the X-Ray glasses that allowed Bond to scan his enemies for weapons in the film The World is Not Enough. But that was not all; he also used it to take a glimpse of the ladies.

3 Little Nellie

In You Only Live Twice, Bond uses the heavily armed autogyro nicknamed Little Nellie to take out a squadron of armed helicopters. At first, Tanaka, chief of the Japanese Secret Service, laughs at the size of Little Nellie and even tries to offer Bond his larger helicopter; but Little Nellie is modified with a few additions. The small chopper could be shipped in four suitcases and assembled anywhere. This ingenious gadget was packed with deadly weapons like missiles, machine guns, heat-seeking projectiles, and flamethrowers.

2 The Jetpack

     United Artists

The Bell Rocket Belt produced by Bell Aerosystems first appeared in 1965 in Thunderball. The jetpack allowed someone to leap over small distances. Later, the gadget made a cameo appearance in Die Another Day (2002). Although most people have not watched Thunderball, it is one of the least watched James Bond films. In a scene in the 1965 movie, Bond jets off with the device to get away from his adversaries. Once in the air, he lands next to his Aston Martin DB5 to escape.

1 Aston Martin DB5

The first car to debut in Goldfinger (1964) was the Aston Martin DB5. The car became a signature piece in James Bond Legacy since it is featured in six Bond movies: GoldenEye, Thunderball, Casino Royale, Tomorrow Never Dies, Spectre, and Skyfall. Daniel Craig, Pierce Brosnan, and Sean Connery have all driven the 1960s sports car.

Although the other gadgets listed above were crucial for specific needs, the Aston Martin DB5 was a vehicle with many modifications, including rockets, slicks, machine guns, an ejector seat, and a metal gun barrier. Of course, many special gadgets are used once and never seen again, but the Aston Martin is a treasure that is part of Bond’s identity.