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BOND BOATS IN BEAULIEU
For more pictures of James Bond props and gadgets, click HERE
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We visited this new exhibition during a stay in Southampton, traveling to the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu via the Hythe Ferry and a short taxi ride. I had been to the Museum with some friends the previous year, to see the EON backed '007 Bond Cars' exhibition, but this was the first visit for my American fiancée (now wife), Valerie. We were blessed with a gorgeous day, warm and sunny, with a calm ferry crossing and a pleasant ride through the countryside, seeing the New Forest ponies on the way.
The 'James Bond Boats' exhibition was located just across from the National Motor Museum hall, housed in a newly erected geodesic dome structure. A steady stream of visitors flowed through the building all the time we were there, showing yet again how popular these vehicles from this film series continue to be.
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The
first vehicle encountered (l), was the Wetbike, used by Bond (Roger
Moore) to journey to Atlantis for 'The Spy who loved me'.
Below, visitors look at the suitcase from 'The Man with the Golden Gun', also seen in the photo bottom left. |
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| The Towsled from 'Thunderball', alongside Blofeld's Bath-o-sub from 'Diamond's are Forever' (below) | |
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Apart from the boats (and cars) on display, there were display cases containing various original props from many of the Bond films.
The shirt worn by Jaws (Richard Kiel) in 'The Spy who Loved Me' and the outfit worn by Moneypenny (Lois Maxwell) in 'Octopussy' can be seen below.
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| A casino cheque, caviar pot and cigar tube, all props from 'The World is not Enough' | |
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| Maggots and chips, together with James Bond's Passport, from 'Licence to Kill' | |
More conventional watercraft were represented by the 'Q' boat (road version), used in the spectacular chase in 'The World is not Enough'.
You can see this Q Boat in action in our EXCLUSIVE ' A View...to a Boat Chase' DVD,
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS
The Glastron speedboat from 'Live and Let Die' accomplished a World Record jump over the highway during the chase through the Louisiana bayou.
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Less conventional watercraft was represented by the 'submarine' version of Bond's Lotus Esprit, from 'The Spy Who Loved Me'
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More props, this time Scaramanga's Golden Gun and a Sean Connery signed copy of 'Thunderball' novel with an original shooting script from the film.
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All of the exhibits were on loan from the Ian Fleming Foundation, the latest of their acquisitions being the AMC Hornet Hatchback from 'The Man with the Golden Gun'. It is in this car that James Bond (Roger Moore) earns the respect of Sheriff J.W. Pepper by launching the car across a Bangkok river using a broken bridge (with a twist thrown in for good measure). This particular model was used in the film as Bond drives the Sheriff though the car showroom window.
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Together with the hundred's of exhibits on display at the National Motor Museum, and the beautiful Beaulieu House and grounds, this makes a wonderful days excursion.
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For more information, please visit the official Beaulieu website
More photos and information on the Bond Boats can be found HERE
For more pictures of James Bond props and gadgets, click HERE
©2002 D.J.Williams
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