Alright, so James Bond has had a fair number of motors, most of them destroyed in ways that make petrol heads cry. From Astons to Citroens, some ride on 007 fandom for their survival. Yet, there is one icon very few of us remember…
Forgotten Film Car: Diamonds are Forever Triumph Stag
After the lukewarm reception George Lazenby received as Connery’s replacement, and due to huge disagreements between Lazenby and the production team, the Bond franchise was in serious turmoil as 1970 rolled in. Lazenby left, leaving James Bond to die away as a 60s’ phenomenon.
To prevent 007 becoming a mere asterisk in film history, Connery was lured back with a record-breaking wage to portray Bond once more in ‘Diamonds are Forever’. And what timely first vehicle to catch sight of him in other than a Triumph Stag?
In the movie, Bond drives 'his' Stag to Amsterdam after taking the place of diamond smuggler Peter Franks, however the stories surrounding its usage sound almost as juicy as the V8 itself.
Many observant listeners noticed that the engine changed noises between shots; from a V8 to a 4 cylinder. Brush it off as movie-land trivia all you like, but there is a legend here that may raise a pre-Roger Moore eyebrow.
Many have claim to proof that the engine threw ‘a wobbly’, so a Dolomite or Herald engine was dropped in for filming to be completed. However, a further accusation covers Aston Martins objection that the Stag V8 sounded better than the DBS from the previous film, and asked for a redub. With such a connection between Bond and Aston, could the producers refuse? Both sound bizarre, but hold considerable following online.
The Stag itself, as indicated by the incredibly low chassis number of LD14, was one of a small number of early pre-production cars used in the Triumph press fleet. Coated in Saffran Yellow and donning a brown interior, it might not have been in the movie for long, but nonetheless it is part of Bond vehicle history – no movie franchise offers this much authority.
The Stag spent many years in a museum environment before undergoing some TLC and receiving extensive bodywork restoration, alongside a new radiator, before being converted to run on unleaded fuel. It went up for auction soon after and sold for £20,700.
It appears to be one of only a few remaining Stags from the original Triumph press fleet, making it a true survivor – akin to 007 himself.
You can watch the first appearance of the Triumph below: