The An iconic historical partnership-007 and the Land Rover
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Rolling Stones and the James Bond film franchise.
With 2022 marking the 60th anniversary of the James Bond movie franchise, the production has opted to join forces with Land Rover and Bowler to create a commemorative one-off Defender.
Also paying homage to four decades of Land Rovers being used in Bond movies, this custom Defender 90 racer was built by Bowler and has been treated to a lift kit, beefier suspension, Lexan race windows, a modified subframe, strengthened 18” Bowler wheels, a roof spoiler, and a full FIA-spec roll-cage.
Powering the luxury SUV is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder 300PS Defender 90 received an upgraded cooling system and a sports exhaust system. The build’s finishing touch is a bespoke black 007-themed livery with gold accents and branding.
During the partnership the Land Rovers have featured in famous James Bond scenes for nearly 40 years, from Octopussy in 1983 to the new Defender in No Time To Die.
In No Time To Die, Daniel Craig as James Bond drives a Land Rover Series III in Port Antonio in Jamaica. The Land Rover is right hand drive, has a spare wheel on the bonnet and custom grey plastic wheel arches. The license plate reads 733 PFP.
Land Rover is an official partner of No Time To Die, and Land Rover Series III is not the only Land Rover to appear in the film. The New Defender is also feature in a spectacular chase scene.
This is not the first time a Series III was used in a Bond movie. In the 1987 film The Living Daylights, a green army Land Rover Serie III plays a big part in the pre-title action sequences. These scenes were filmed on the Rock of Gibraltar.
During a training exercise at a military base in Gibraltar, an assassin kills one of the MI6 agents. Timothy Dalton as James Bond chases the assassin who tries to escape in a Land Rover Series III from the British army. While the Land Rover speeds down the mountain, Bond is able to cut through the canvas roof and enter the vehicle. The Land Rover is ultimately destroyed when it explodes before it crashes into the sea.
Series III Land Rovers were produced from 1971 to 1990.
Land Rovers in Bond movies since 1983
Octopussy (1983) – Range Rover Rapport Huntsman
A View to A Kill (1985) – Range Rover
The Living Daylights (1987) – Land Rover Series III, Land Rover Series III armoured, Range Rover
The World Is Not Enough (1999) – Land Rover Defender 90 custom
Die Another Day (2002) – Range Rover L322
Casino Royale (2006) – Range Rover Sport
Quantum of Solace (2008) – Ranger Rover Sport
Skyfall (2012) – Land Rover Defender, Land Rover Discovery 4, Range Rover L322 Series III
SPECTRE (2015) – Land Rover Defender Bigfoot, Land Rover Discovery Sport, Range Rover
No Time To Die (2021) – Land Rover Defender 2020, Land Rover Series III, Range Rover Series I, Range Rover Sport SVR
Peter Faidt
