This post was originally written in 2008 prior to the release of Quantum of Solace, but with the release of Skyfall approaching, I’ve decided to dust it off, and give it an update. Enjoy!
Like most people I love the Guinness World Records. There is just something about all of the bits of useless information, spectacular feats, and sometimes bizarre records that can just keep me occupied for hours.
So in anticipation of Quantum of Solace Skyfall, I thought it would be fun to take a look at the records that are held by the legend known as, James Bond.
- First Completely Submersible Sports Car –While this technically isn’t a James Bond record, I feel it is worth mentioning. In The Spy Who Loved Me Bond uses his sports car/submarine/wet dream on wheels to escape Jaws and his henchmen. This scene inspired Swiss company Rinspeed to invent a real life sports car/submarine. It is called the Rinspeed sQuba.
- Top land speed: 75 mph
- Top on-water speed: 3.7 mph
- Top under-water speed: 1.9 mph
- Fuel type: electric
- Emissions: 0
Aside from it’s looks it really can’t be called a sports car.
- Most Prolific James Bond Author – Believe it or not Ian Flemming has not written the most James Bond novels. He has written a measly 12 (which is still 12 more than I have written). You see in 1981 this other bloke named John Gardner came along and wrote 14. I’m pretty sure he just did it for the money… Or the Bond Babes.
- Most Prolific Stunt-man – Vic Armstrong currently holds the record for most prolific stunt-man. He has doubled in almost EVERY James Bond film, and all three of the original Indiana Jones flicks (you know, the good ones). Sadly Vic was not part of Casino Royale , Quantum of Solace, or most recently Skyfall. Still, quite a feat if you ask me.
- Most Valuable Typewriter – In 1995 Ian Flemming’s typewriter was sold for approximately $100,000. The typewriter was the one that was used by Flemming to write the original novels that have led to a film sensation. Quit a hefty price for such a dated piece of equipment.
- Largest Sum Paid for Bond Memorabilia – In 2001 the Aston Martin DB5 that was used in Golden Eye sold for approximately $230,000. Quit a price tag for a piece of movie memorabilia, but I am sure that it made one fan very, very happy. How often is it you can say, “Yeah, that’s James Bond’s car.”
- Largest Breakaway Glass Structure Made For a Film – In Die Another Day James Bond drove his Aston Martin Vanquish into the Ice Palace hotel room door to save the life of Jinx, he was making a world record. It was approximately 8.5 feet by 6 feet and was over 1 inch thick. It weighed a whopping 350lbs. Personally I think it would have been cool to see it done with real glass, but I am sure it made for a better/safer scene being fake.
- Highest Ski Base Jump on Film – In The Spy Who Loved Me, James Bond skied off a 2,000ft cliff. Luckily, he deployed a parachute and flew to safety. This made this scene the highest ski base jump ever to be caught on film.
- Longest Speedboat Jump – In the film Live and Let Die, during the speedboat chase, James Bond made an astonishing jump in his speed boat. The jump was over a road and into the water on the other side, a full 120 feet.
- Most Profitable Movie Series – I am unsure of the actual dollar amount that set this record, but James Bond has made $4,397,593,106 to date (not including his newest film Quantum of Solace or Skyfall). If you factor in inflation over the years he has made the equivalence of $11,615,711,960. All I have to say is, wow.
I am sure there are several more Bond records, and I am also certain that Bond will continue to set records. Hopefully his newer films will keep the series alive.