The James Bond Car That Got Its Own Movie

"Justin T. Westbrook" (justintylerwestbrook) 11/09/2014 at 10:27 • Filed to: Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang, Ian, Fleming, James, Bond, 007, JamesBond, James Bond, movies, flying, cars, flight, chitty, bang, Bond car

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I'm assuming most of you here are in the casual-to-decent-knowledge range of being Bond fans. Some of you may not even know that the films are based on a series of successful novels written in the 1950's and 1960's by the author Ian Fleming. You've seen some of the movies, Sean Connery is probably your favorite James Bond, and you have no idea what movie came out when, but you love them because they have explosions, guns, and more importantly, they have cars. Cars with fricken' laser beams. While sometimes playing a large role in their respective films, only one Bond car was actually given its own movie, and it was never driven by James Bond.

I'll wager that almost all of you had no clue that the same man who wrote the Bond stories also wrote the original Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang novel. This fall, his original tale of a flying car celebrates its 50th Anniversary of publishing.

It may strike you as odd that the creator of the most successful and often brutally violent and sexually risque spy characters managed to produce a highly successful children's story. It is indeed a unique addition to Ian Fleming's literary resume, as fourteen of his stories were Bond fiction, two published books were non-fiction travel logs, and just the one book, Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang , is a fantastical fiction designed as a family friendly exploration of a car with magical powers. Fleming's inspiration for publishing the story came from, quite literally, a change of heart. In April 1961, the year before the first James Bond motion picture Dr. No would be released, the author suffered a major heart attack. Slightly annoyed at the thought of bed rest and with a diminishing outlook towards life, Fleming needed something to ease his mind but didn't require physical activity. A close friend then suggested he write out a bedtime story he often told to his son, Caspar.

Ian Fleming's inspiration for his bedside story came from the aircraft-engined racers of the early 1900's. These cars adapted aircraft engines to automobile platforms from the surplus of wartime equipment. The direct inspiration for the book came from Louis Zborowiski's and Captain Clive Gallop's race cars nicknamed Chitty Bang Bang . Fleming had seen the drivers race at a young age, and later visited Higham Park, the estate where the vehicles had been developed. The vehicles ranged from 180 to 450 horsepower, and were so loud laws were passed that prohibited them from entering the town. Both the racing team and Fleming adopted the name from the noise produced by the powerful engines.

Louis Zborowski in Chitty Bang Bang 1

Ian Fleming didn't live to see the book's publishing. He passed away on August 12th, 1964, his son Caspar's 12th birthday. The book was originally published in three volumes from October of 1964 to January of 1965.

The film adaptation in 1968 starring Dick Van Dyke has many ties with the James Bond universe besides sharing Fleming as its creator. The movie was produced by Albert "Cubby" Broccoli, whose family has produced all 23 official Bond films as well as the upcoming 24th. Desmond Llewelyn, famous for his role as the quartermaster "Q" in the Bond franchise, stars in Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang as the scrap yard salesman. Gert Fröbe, famous for his role as the villain Goldfinger in the Bond film of the same name, also stars as a character not originally in the novel, Baron Bomberst. The movie is currently available to stream on Netflix.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Other adaptations include a novelization of the 1968 film, a musical, and a radio play. Fleming also did some work on a treatment where James Bond is tasked with saving Stirling Moss from a Russian-staged wreck at the Nurburgring, which is currently being made into a novel.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

So maybe the flying car in Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang is not exactly a "Bond car", but there is enough of the Bond DNA to keep it PG and still be fantastic storytelling.

"Never say 'no' to adventures. Always say 'yes', otherwise you'll lead a very dull life." -Caractacus Pott

Justin Westbrook is a 20-year-old General Manager of a Jimmy John's sub shop in North Carolina, and spends his spare time watching James Bond movies, thinking about going to college, and participating in "the internet."

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > Justin T. Westbrook 11/09/2014 at 10:49

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Oh I knew. I've been dreaming of the day I could build my own Chitty replica. I'd probably base it off the Bentley Meteor on Top Gear from a few years back.

RoadHead -- Armand > Justin T. Westbrook 11/09/2014 at 14:02

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The title is click bait. Click bait I tell ya!

icantremembermylastname > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut 11/09/2014 at 14:05

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One day it will happen. I think building and driving a Chitty replica is one of my last unspoiled childhood dreams.

jalop1991 > Justin T. Westbrook 11/09/2014 at 14:06

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What do James Bond and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang have in common? Ian Fleming wrote both of them. Did you know that? I didn't know that.

Yes, I did.

It's amazing how the world did all sorts of things before 1994, isn't it.

Micro-dosing Gawker's Tears > jalop1991 11/09/2014 at 14:09

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I didn't know that and I'm a big fan of both.

And what happened in 1991?

Scrape > Justin T. Westbrook 11/09/2014 at 14:12

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And thanks for doing even the most basic of research as evidenced by your not referring to the '68 movie as being from the Disney stable, as so often happens.

Mary, Mary, Knotty Pine > jalop1991 11/09/2014 at 14:29

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I didn't know that and I'm an old.

High Road > Justin T. Westbrook 11/09/2014 at 14:31

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Ian Fleming wrote Chitty Chitty Bang Bang? No way! That's almost as shocking as yesterday's infamous Kenmeri Skyline "hippies". You people need to get out more.

Justin T. Westbrook > RoadHead -- Armand 11/09/2014 at 14:44

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Yea, but "Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang Turns 50" just sounds so.. boring.

Justin T. Westbrook > Scrape 11/09/2014 at 14:46

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Well the article is mostly about the novel by Ian Fleming. I'm not sure if it's the majority of the text, the portrait of Ian Fleming, or the fact that you don't "publish" a movie that gave it away, but it seems the article is referring to the book, not the film. :)

Justin T. Westbrook > jalop1991 11/09/2014 at 14:49

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Indeed. Apparently today we're celebrating a wall or something? I saw it on google and it was trending. What's the big deal about a wall?

Justin T. Westbrook > High Road 11/09/2014 at 14:50

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Well my dad didn't know. And he's like, old.

Manuel Lopes > Justin T. Westbrook 11/09/2014 at 15:05

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This is not James Bond. It's just a casting mistake

The Innkeeper > Justin T. Westbrook 11/09/2014 at 15:12

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I didn't know that either. Strikes me as a bit odd to comment for the sole purpose of saying "I already knew that."

Justin T. Westbrook > Manuel Lopes 11/09/2014 at 15:18

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Disrespectfully disagree. See prior: "Sean Connery is probably your favorite James Bond.."

MikeTysonsLisp > Justin T. Westbrook 11/09/2014 at 15:30

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.

RedPir8Roberts > Justin T. Westbrook 11/09/2014 at 15:42

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Stirling Moss has an uncredited cameo driving a race car for a pursuit in the first Casino Royale adaptation (before the Broccoli group had the rights to the book), so he was already in a "James Bond" movie although the spoof was more Austin Powers than Bond. Given all of the talent involved in making the movie, it's too bad it is almost unwatchable due to the 1960s-style idea of a farce. Or maybe Woody Allen's idea, though he was only one of several writers and not one of the five directors, it reminds me of some of his other movies from that era in terms of sped-up mayhem in places. Also coincidentally, Bond's butler is played by Erik Chitty. And David Prowse also has a bit part as Frankenstein's monster, long before he was Chewbacca, and of course Ursula Andress appears in addition to many, many others who were then or would later become stars, like Jacqueline Bisset. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was a warm childhood memory for me, though my 7 year old niece who saw it recently didn't like it (nor did her parents), and I am having trouble finishing it myself on Netflix, like the first Casino Royale it's a bit dated in terms of today's tastes (or mine, anyway). Still, a flying airplane-motored car!

HiwattScott > Justin T. Westbrook 11/09/2014 at 16:03

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While I did know that the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang book was written by Ian Fleming, I did not know that it was inspired by an actual car called Chitty Bang Bang, so thanks for that!

IGetPwnedOften > Justin T. Westbrook 11/09/2014 at 16:06

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Not sure if this has been posted or not, but while Ian Fleming wrote the book, the first screenplay for the film was written by Roald Dahl., who also penned the first screenplay for You Only Live Twice. Dahl also created the Child Catcher character in the film who was subsequently voted the scariest villain in children's literature.

RoadHead -- Armand > Justin T. Westbrook 11/09/2014 at 16:21

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then it's probably not worth writing about

Scrape > Justin T. Westbrook 11/09/2014 at 16:22

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I was complimenting you for not making the common mistake of attributing the movie version to Disney like 90% of people do. Good read on the history, though.

Justin T. Westbrook > RoadHead -- Armand 11/09/2014 at 16:33

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Which is why, you'll notice, some 20 year old wrote about it and not Patrick George.

Justin T. Westbrook > IGetPwnedOften 11/09/2014 at 16:34

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Great facts! I'm not surprised Dahl started writing, for the book was in publishing for more than two years.

Justin T. Westbrook > HiwattScott 11/09/2014 at 16:37

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There were 4! Chitty Bang Bang 1, Chitty Bang Bang 2, Chitty Bang Bang 3, and Chitty Bang Bang 4, which didn't race until it was bought, rebuilt, and renamed Babs.

Justin T. Westbrook > Scrape 11/09/2014 at 16:38

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I heard Elon Musk is working on a way to add inflection and tone to internet text. Until he does, I wholeheartedly apologize for misunderstanding you. :)

62imperialcrown > IGetPwnedOften 11/09/2014 at 16:48

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Well, that would explain why the movie is much like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in some ways - was the whole "Toot Sweets"/candy factory sequence Dahl's work too?

davedave1111 > Justin T. Westbrook 11/09/2014 at 16:58

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Yeah, but really, Craig is the worst Bond. Apart from being Lazenby-sans-charm, he's responsible for the worst film of all, including the spoof Casino Royale - Skyfall can't be a proper Bond film if he loses in the end.

LTIROCKS > Justin T. Westbrook 11/09/2014 at 17:03

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Cool article.

"180 HP" wasn't a reality in the automotive racing world in the "early 1900s," though, and "450 HP" didn't happen until after World War 2 (later 1940s).

In the "early 1900s," 100 Net HP ("as installed") was a stunning accomplishment.

Here are the Indy 500 qualifying times from 1915. The top cars were indeed making something on the order of 100 "as installed" HP, which would be enough to propel those cars to nearly 100 MPH.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1915_Indi…

g101010101 > Justin T. Westbrook 11/09/2014 at 17:07

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I knew the author had written both but still learned a ton from this article. The movie is one of my favorites. For anyone with kids under 11 ... I highly recommend buying the Bluray remastered version of this movie that came out recently and watching it with them. It is the example of remastered perfection and your kids will likely love the movie.

Dick Van Dyke at his best.

Justin T. Westbrook > LTIROCKS 11/09/2014 at 17:08

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Great research! The vehicles I was describing were specifically the Chitty Bang Bang family, where the first had approximately (according to research) 180HP, and the final one had supposedly 450HP, admittedly much later. The last one was also bought and rebuilt with a new engine, which is why it got such a high power boost.

Justin T. Westbrook > g101010101 11/09/2014 at 17:09

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It is a fun movie, and to reiterate for those with subscription: it's currently on Netflix.

Dake > Justin T. Westbrook 11/09/2014 at 17:29

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Not only did I know this - I have a first US edition sitting on my bookshelf so... uh... cool story.

Justin T. Westbrook > Dake 11/09/2014 at 17:49

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That is a cool story.. I guess.

Mitch Waylett > Justin T. Westbrook 11/09/2014 at 18:30

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When I think of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, I am reminded of the car crafter Gary Wales, who retasks old fire engines into Huge Roadsters .

The-Ever-Socially-Apathetic TBAL > Justin T. Westbrook 11/09/2014 at 18:41

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Patrick George is BOSS.

Patrick George > Justin T. Westbrook 11/09/2014 at 19:23

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I'm Patrick George, and I highly enjoyed this story.

TheHondaBro > davedave1111 11/09/2014 at 19:37

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At least he doesn't portray typical ladies-man Bond.

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > Scrape 11/09/2014 at 19:43

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Wait, people think it's a Disney movie?

Smorgasborg > Justin T. Westbrook 11/09/2014 at 20:03

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I am fully aware that I am in the minority here, but Roger Moore is my favorite James Bond. Granted, his movies are some of my least favorite, but as Bond, there's something about him that works delightfully well.

Justin T. Westbrook > Patrick George 11/09/2014 at 20:08

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Word.

Justin T. Westbrook > Smorgasborg 11/09/2014 at 20:09

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It's the Mr.Stealyogirlswagger isn't it.

Sepipgab > Justin T. Westbrook 11/09/2014 at 20:16

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I really want to see John Hamm (of Madmen fame) star as Caractacus Finch in a remake. Also, where the heck did musical movies of this type go?

Kaizer Soze > davedave1111 11/09/2014 at 21:07

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Skyfall was actually a great movie. And Casino Royale was great too. Who cares if they stray from the cheesy, sexist, contrived plots of the bond of yore, if they make a good movie while they do it?

west-coaster > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut 11/09/2014 at 21:12

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Probably because:

Dick van Dyke sings and dances in Mary Poppins (Disney movie) = Dick van Dyke sings and dances in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Disney movie...?)

94GTratracer > IGetPwnedOften 11/09/2014 at 21:17

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Ok, ok, so I read the book first and pretty much hate the movie, though admittedly that may have as much to do with the way the car looks in the movie vs. the awesome description and illustrations in the book as it does with changes to the characters and plot. Roald Dahl wrote the first screenplay you say? What the hell happened to that one—I assume the movie we got (second screenplay?) was written by someone else as it doesn't seem up to Dahl snuff at all. Did I miss something? Also, the article talks about a "novelization" of the film—what what? Good book becomes fairly terrible movie becomes book again (assumed to be also terrible)? Thanks, now I've got a research project, lol.

fawgcutter > Justin T. Westbrook 11/09/2014 at 21:25

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Yeah, and if you watch the movie carefully, you'll see that Desmond Llewelyn, who played Q in the Bond films, played the junkyard owner from whom the family bought the car from.

Ad_absurdum_per_aspera > Smorgasborg 11/09/2014 at 21:43

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I thought Moore was thoroughly enjoyable in a slightly hammy sort of way that fit the increasingly campy movies.

Something I hadn't known until I blundered across a story on it several years ago: apparently the first filmed adaptation of a 007 novel (the enduring Casino Royale) featured an Americanized agent referred to sometimes as "Jimmy," played by busy American character actor and occasional leading man Barry Nelson. It was for an episode of a US television anthology and there was talk of making it into a regular series. Or so I'm told by my elders and betters — someone found and pieced together most of the episode but I've yet to actually encounter it.

I'm trying to imagine any of several exotic beauties moaning in any number of foreign accents, "Oh, Jimmy!' but, it just isn't happening.

Ready for an adventure! > Justin T. Westbrook 11/09/2014 at 21:45

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Plus....extra points because Benny Hill is in the movie...

94GTratracer > Justin T. Westbrook 11/09/2014 at 22:02

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Every time I see the movie car it makes me want to puke. Fleming's novel so clearly describes a machine that is much closer to an old Bentley. At minimum the car should have been British racing green. I might have to watch the movie again now that I know Roald Dahl co-wrote the script, but I think the car will ruin it for me again. I guess I'm not a huge fan of musicals either, so maybe I'll just re-read the book.

TwoToneLoser > Micro-dosing Gawker's Tears 11/09/2014 at 22:17

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1991? Something happened, I was there, Let me check...

Wait...no. One more time.

Yep, I got nothin.

Justin T. Westbrook > 94GTratracer 11/09/2014 at 22:20

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Yep, there was a separate novelization of the film after its success. It did change some things and introduce new characters. I know there are currently sequels being written (as in, like 2011 I think) but I can't remember if they follow Fleming's or the novelization.

Pigineering > Kaizer Soze 11/09/2014 at 22:33

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I recently watched Skyfall and enjoyed it especially the wild chases! Each Bond actor provides the film with its own 'atmosphere' so IMO, there isn't good or bad Bond. Daniel Craig is just playing the character in his more "senior" days, and it fits in with the storyline quite well in my reckoning.

Pigineering > Justin T. Westbrook 11/09/2014 at 22:35

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That's fascinatingly hilarious. If I ever own a beater that ran rough with funny sounds... that's what I'm gonna call it lol

mcseanerson > IGetPwnedOften 11/09/2014 at 22:50

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Came here to make sure this was mentioned. I was more shocked by Dahl's connection to Chitty than Fleming's because I have greatly enjoyed Dahl's work where as Flemming's work has typically not elicited not much more than a meh.

mcseanerson > TwoToneLoser 11/09/2014 at 22:58

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You can't tell me nothing happened in 1991.

The Ex-Presidents.... are surfers.

V8 Vortec > Justin T. Westbrook 11/09/2014 at 23:26

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Your "About the author" section is gold.

High Road > The Innkeeper 11/09/2014 at 23:46

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Westbrook made the wager and I countered with, "I already knew that". How is that odd? That's how the game is played. I mean Christ, even you replied with "I didn't know that". So you get to play, but I don't? You're right, that is odd.

Matthew Phillips > Justin T. Westbrook 11/10/2014 at 00:15

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Screw the Haters, I love Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, I own the book somewhere, read it countless times growing up, I bought the movie in 1999 and still have it. I also have the Soundtrack on Cassette... somewhere...

Itunes puts out the soundtrack every now and then, but I think it's an unnofficial release when it does...

I'm glad to see the actual car though :)

Mr Clutch > Justin T. Westbrook 11/10/2014 at 02:49

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First thing that popped in my head when I saw the the title to the post.

Old-Busted-Hotness > LTIROCKS 11/10/2014 at 06:31

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400 HP is realistic for a WW1 aero engine, like Leno's Hispano-Suiza:

Thousands of these engines were left over from the war, and what better use than to put one in a car? Due to the engine's weight and power (too much for the tires of the day), many owners eliminated one bank to make slant-4's (358 C.I.) which dominated circle tracks until they were banned. But you could still drag race them:

This one was good for about 130 mph in the 1/4. E.T. unknown, likely somewhere in the 12's.

Leon711 > Justin T. Westbrook 11/10/2014 at 06:38

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Controversial statement, my favourite is Brosnan.

davedave1111 > TheHondaBro 11/10/2014 at 07:44

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No, he plays an uncultured thug instead. In fact, Craig would make a great henchman for the villain. He's not Bond by a million miles, though.

Charles Engasser > Justin T. Westbrook 11/10/2014 at 07:47

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The most surprising thing about Flemming's Bond books was that they were more based in reality than most people realize. Flemming was an actual Intelligence officer for the British Navy during WWII, and a lot of the actual operations he was involved in during the war went on to become the basis for elements in his books. He was also instrumental (maybe not quite the right word) in helping the U.S. in drafting the creation of the blueprints for what would later become the CIA.

davedave1111 > Kaizer Soze 11/10/2014 at 07:47

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If you think Skyfall was a great movie, I truly despair. Even if that were true - and it really couldn't be further from the truth - it would be an utterly inappropriate accolade for a Bond film to earn, and would constitute abject failure on the part of the producers.

J Bonington Jagworth > Justin T. Westbrook 11/10/2014 at 08:32

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Here's an aero-engined car. The Curtiss Special that Honda Soichiro worked on as an apprentice. I'd guess the valve gear gave him pause for thought.

[/IMG]

DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! > Manuel Lopes 11/10/2014 at 08:44

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This is not a comment, it's just a stupid opinion.

Outback XT > davedave1111 11/10/2014 at 09:20

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Worst film of all? Did you see Moonraker? Or maybe The World is Not Enough?

backRoads > Justin T. Westbrook 11/10/2014 at 09:38

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I've assumed jalops would know this if they've seen the movie (or read the book) as an adult, because who else would name the female lead Truly Scrumptious ? As soon as I realized that was her name, I turned to the Google to confirm my suspicions.

Justin T. Westbrook > V8 Vortec 11/10/2014 at 10:04

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Thanks

elpaco13 > Manuel Lopes 11/10/2014 at 10:12

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Actually, he is probably the closest to what Fleming's Bond looks like. Fleming only mentions what Bond looks like once: he says he looks like Hoagy Carmichael.

elpaco13 > davedave1111 11/10/2014 at 10:15

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While M does die, Silva died first. So the argument could be made that as far as Silva knows, he never successfully killed M.

And I'm not sure how you feel about QoS, but I didn't like it at first. However, if you watch it immediately after 'Casino Royale' it is much better. Together they make a great 4 hour movie where the second half is just a little weaker.

Ntovorni > Manuel Lopes 11/10/2014 at 10:51

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After just reading Casino Royale, I'm not so sure. His mannerisms match the novel pretty well.

Ntovorni > Kaizer Soze 11/10/2014 at 10:54

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I just finished Casino Royale literally last night. FANTASTIC book, and thinking back to the movie I really enjoyed how they took the novel, and put their own spin on it. I don't need movies to be carbon copies, but they kept close enough to the novel to still keep it relevant.

After getting a good idea of Flemming's bond, I think Craig is a great bond.

Ntovorni > Justin T. Westbrook 11/10/2014 at 10:55

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There was an announcement last month, there's another Bond novel coming, with previously unreleased parts from Flemming, that just never got put into a novel prior to his death.

Ntovorni > Justin T. Westbrook 11/10/2014 at 10:57

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This is truly amazing timing, considering I just got done reading Casino Royale, and am intending on reading the entire Bond anthology. (I'll comment back in 20 years when I'm done)

LTIROCKS > Old-Busted-Hotness 11/10/2014 at 11:07

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130 MPH trap speeds equate to mid 10 second 1/4 miles. You're out of your mind if you think WWI slant 4 cars like this ran 10s 100 years ago.

The Fokker D, as flown by WWI Ace "The Red Barron" was one of the best performing planes in that era, and its engine produced a whole 185 HP. The best iteration of the French Spad (the S.XIII) made 220 HP from its Hispano-Suize engine.

Grow up and accept facts. "450 HP" in "early 1900s" cars just wasn't a reality - not by a long shot.

http://acepilots.com/wwi/fokker_dvi…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SPAD_S.XI…

Justin T. Westbrook > Ntovorni 11/10/2014 at 11:10

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I was talking about sequels to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in my comment above, but I do know about the new Bond novel. I wrote a piece on it here on Oppo and even linked it in this article...

Justin T. Westbrook > Ntovorni 11/10/2014 at 11:12

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It wont take you that long. I thoroughly enjoyed Moonraker. I remember liking Casino Royale, but I list Moonraker as a favorite.

Ntovorni > Justin T. Westbrook 11/10/2014 at 11:16

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ah, I glossed over the link. I don't always pay attention to those, just read the articles.

mikemikemotorbike > davedave1111 11/10/2014 at 11:16

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don't be confused by the older films. Craig's bond movies try to capture thue original spirit of the books. The movies are often cartoons by comparison.

palmbeachjim > Justin T. Westbrook 11/10/2014 at 11:18

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What is interesting is that the story in the Chitty Chitty bang Bang novel is completely different than the movie. About the only common theme is the car. otherwise totally different plots.

Ntovorni > Justin T. Westbrook 11/10/2014 at 11:19

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I'm gonna do them all in order, and I want to get all the awesome covers as well. The last page of Casino Royale was awesome. Hell, just the last sentence "The bitch is dead". That sets the tone for Bond the rest of the way through so well.

I also thought this was interesting, in light of all the Russian activities lately:

Fear was the impulse. For them it was always safer to advance than retreat. Advance against the enemy and the bullet might miss you. Retreat, evade, betray, and the bullet would never miss."

Just after I finished it last night, I look at my phone, and I saw Russia violated more airspace.

TheHondaBro > Leon711 11/10/2014 at 11:59

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Brosnan is a good Bond. I agree with you, good sir.

Leon711 > TheHondaBro 11/10/2014 at 12:02

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He was awful in Mamma Mia though.

Old-Busted-Hotness > LTIROCKS 11/10/2014 at 12:03

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I probably am out of my mind, but the 130 for that car is documented. It was built in the 1950's, though, not early 1900's.

The Wright-Hisso Tempest E4 was rated at 285 HP @2300 rpm. Run the RPM's up a bit (not hard since it's understressed in an automobile) and 400 is realistic. They probably wouldn't live long at 3,000 RPM, but they didn't have to.

http://www.aviation-history.com/engines/e4.htm

julienjj > Kaizer Soze 11/10/2014 at 12:57

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Then call it something else.

Like I alway say: "Skyfall is a good movie, but a bad James Bond"

redskull3000 > Ready for an adventure! 11/10/2014 at 13:32

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But unfortunately they cast him in the most humorless role possible. The toymaker doesn't do or say anything even remotely funny anywhere in the film.

davedave1111 > Outback XT 11/10/2014 at 14:32

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Yes. Did you notice Bond losing in them?

davedave1111 > elpaco13 11/10/2014 at 14:34

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Bond was utterly defeated in Skyfall. I don't think CR is too bad, but QoS really pissed me off. OHMSS went there, and did it better in the course of a single scene - one of the great scenes in cinema, in my book, mainly thanks to that wonderful Louis Armstrong performance.

davedave1111 > mikemikemotorbike 11/10/2014 at 14:38

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Having read all the Fleming books (and the odd one or two of the others), I have to totally disagree. The new films are actually even further from the books than the worst Roger Moore films. The books were never more than a small step above pulp, but 'grit' isn't a Fleming characteristic: glamour, alcohol, women, fast cars, and a Bond who's basically a superhero. Cartoonish? Of course the films were cartoonish, because the Bond books are comic books with words instead of pictures.

LTIROCKS > Old-Busted-Hotness 11/10/2014 at 14:46

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They didn't go like that in "the early 1900s," though, nor did they make anything close to 450 HP.

It made 285 HP at 2,300 RPM. That was peak, meaning power fell off after that.

Every internal combustion engine in the world works that way, with power falling off after peak - regardless of RPM.

Old-Busted-Hotness > LTIROCKS 11/10/2014 at 15:33

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Is the Liberty L-12 (1917) close enough to 400 HP for you?

http://www.aviation-history.com/engines/libert…

Or if you want to include 1921 as "early 1900's we could use a Curtiss D-12 (443 HP):

http://www.aviation-history.com/engines/d12.ht…

Rolls-Royce Eagle and Napier Lion also put out 400+ HP. There's no shortage of high-powered engines in WW1.

mikemikemotorbike > davedave1111 11/10/2014 at 16:18

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So what's a Craig moment that contradicts the novel? Essentially, the only thing I can think of that's out of character is that Craig isn't dashingly handsome.

Dusty Ventures > Outback XT 11/10/2014 at 17:02

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Not to threadjack, but do you in fact have an Outback XT?

LTIROCKS > Old-Busted-Hotness 11/10/2014 at 22:07

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Those engines were BOMBER engines.

Would they fit in a car?

The engines alone weighed nearly 900 pounds. Throw in a (cast iron housed) transmission, driveshaft, rear end, plus the chassis and you'd be looking at 3,100 pounds or so. 400 HP wouldn't yield a 130 MPH trap speed in such a package. 550 HP would be required to accomplish that feat - including the driver and fuel - if the tires of the time were capable of providing the necessary traction - which they weren't.

You have no credibility. Your suggestion that one could coax a 285 HP engine into making 400 HP merely by revving it higher proved that beyond any doubt.

Here's a Liberty L-12. It's huge by car engine standards:

Manuel Lopes > Ntovorni 11/11/2014 at 04:09

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I had read most of the novels (Casino Royal also) and in no way the violence and fist fighting mode from daniel craig is present

Old-Busted-Hotness > LTIROCKS 11/11/2014 at 07:15

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Well, Malcolm Campbell managed to fit a Napier Lion into one of his Bluebirds. Here he is on the beach trying for 200 mph (only hitting 195, the deuce would have to wait until he supercharged it).

Would that engine fit in a car? Not a normal car, but you can't deny that Bluebird is a car.

Fun fact: Propellors work in a very limited rpm range. Aircraft designers would tell engine manufacturers. "we need to swing a 9-foot, 16-degree prop at 1500-2000 rpm. Make it happen." The resulting engine would be rated at that rpm, because anything higher would result in less-than-optimal flight. They literally did not care what happened past 2,000 rpm until high-speed props were developed in the 1920's. Unfortunately they didn't document torque output, unless you can find it with your super genius powers.

Back to the Benham & Aicher half-off special: I found another source

http://www.hotrod.com/cars/featured/…

With half a Hisso, they ran 12 flat at 107 (yes, that's not 130, I'm so sorry, I must be retarded for believing an online source yesterday. Fucking sue me). That's with only one bank. Work your math on that and get back to me, preferably with more personal attacks.

Ready for an adventure! > redskull3000 11/11/2014 at 07:44

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He must have saved his humor for his show..

Old-Busted-Hotness > LTIROCKS 11/11/2014 at 07:56

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And even more derp:

http://naca.central.cranfield.ac.uk/reports/1921/n…

As the URL suggests, this is a 1921 NACA report on the Hisso V8. At ground level, BHP peaked at 342. Torque came in at a mid-boggling 900 lb-ft at 1700 RPM.

That's as installed, aircraft configuration. Now call me stupid (again) but I'm pretty sure somebody who'd put one in a car could find another 60 HP in there.

Or, you could just admit that 342 is a lot of power, call me a retard one more time, and we'll call it done.

LTIROCKS > Old-Busted-Hotness 11/11/2014 at 08:17

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Torque by itself is useless in determining vehicle acceleration or speed.. Horsepower is what matters, since it's HORSEPOWER (along with gears and tire radius) that produces drivewheel torque at any given vehicle speed.

You've yet to provide a shred of evidence that these cars "ran 10s" in the "early 1900s." They didn't.

Here's what "10s" looked like in 1968 - some half a century after "the early 1900s." In this case we have the Sox and Martin race Hemi Barracuda. It was a purpose built, NHRA sanctioned Super Stock drag car that weighed roughly 3,000 pounds even and produced some 585 peak HP from it's fully blueprinted and modified 426 race Hemi. Massive "wrinkle" slicks, a drag suspension, a locked rear diff, and a relatively modern driveline were all part of the deal.