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<\/a><\/p>\nReviewers say\u00a0Spy Octane\u00a0is \u201cdefinitive\u201d, \u201cwonderful\u201d, \u201ccompelling\u201d and a \u201cmasterpiece\u201d. The research behind the book, by acclaimed Bond historians Matthew Field and Ajay Chowdhury, is described as \u201cstaggering\u201d, \u201cexhaustive\u201d and \u201cpainstaking\u201d. Meanwhile, every customer\u00a0review at Porter Press\u00a0gives\u00a0Spy Octane\u00a0the full five-star rating.<\/p>\n
Spy\u00a0Octane\u00a0tells the behind-the-scenes stories of the\u00a0spectacular array of transport which propelled Sean Connery and George Lazenby in seven action-packed James Bond movies, from\u00a0Dr. No\u00a0(1962) to\u00a0Diamonds Are Forever\u00a0(1971).<\/p>\n
It reveals, for the first time ever, the complete story of all four Aston Martin DB5s used in the making and promotion of\u00a0Goldfinger\u00a0(1964) and\u00a0Thunderball\u00a0(1965). Every one of these cars\u2019 owners down the years delved deep into their family archives to support the book with photographs and documents, most of them never published before.<\/p>\n
Spy Octane\u00a0also presents, for the first time, the true story behind the two Toyota 2000GT Convertibles built specially for\u00a0You Only Live Twice\u00a0(1967) \u2013 one of which was, until now, thought to be lost forever.<\/p>\n
The book explains what happened to the two Aston Martin DBS Vantages and three Mercury Cougar XR-7 Convertibles used in the making of\u00a0On Her Majesty\u2019s Secret Service\u00a0(1969). As\u00a0Spy Octane\u00a0exclusively reveals, all of these cars survive to this day.<\/p>\n
But\u00a0Spy Octane\u00a0covers more than just Bond cars. It details every vehicle from the first seven films \u2013 on land, sea and in the air.<\/p>\n
It reveals the fascinating story of the Little Nellie autogyro which starred in\u00a0You Only Live Twice\u00a0and includes exclusive, unpublished papers and logbook entries from Little Nellie\u2019s creator and pilot, Wing Commander Ken Wallis.\u00a0Wallis\u2019 great-nephew, Elliot Wallis said,\u00a0\u201cOur family is extremely proud of Ken\u2019s work and Little Nellie\u2019s starring role in the James Bond movie. Their incredible story making\u00a0You Only Live Twice\u00a0is told in Spy Octane in granular detail. We were thrilled to be able to allow the authors access to Uncle Ken\u2019s archive, which for many years, has remained locked away. It is now shared in this book for Bond aficionados and aviation enthusiasts to enjoy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spy Octane\u00a0includes an extraordinary collection of archive images which have never previously been published. \u201cSome\u00a0of\u00a0these pictures\u00a0have sat in attics for more than half a century,\u201d says Matthew.\u00a0\u201cWe have been granted access to\u00a0private and\u00a0corporate archives\u00a0all over the world, including those of Ford and Toyota, who shared a wealth of incredible never-before-published photography.\u201d<\/p>\n
Photographs from the Ford archive show the stunt team at work on the stock car chase in\u00a0On Her Majesty\u2019s Secret Service. There are also photographs, drawings and production memos from the collections of custom car builders Dean Jeffries and George Barris, who built futuristic vehicles for\u00a0Diamonds Are Forever.<\/p>\n
Fascinating newspaper clippings, photos and ephemera come from the scrapbook of Aston Martin executive Mike Ashley, who took the gadget-laden DB5 on a promotional world tour in 1964. \u201cIt has been an absolute honour to share my story in\u00a0Spy\u00a0Octane\u201d, Mike says. \u201cFlicking through this incredible volume and seeing all the other 007 vehicles beyond just Aston Martin \u2013 it is a great reminder of what an extraordinary cultural phenomenon the world of James Bond has become and the role it has played in automotive history and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spy\u00a0Octane\u00a0draws upon dozens of exclusive interviews with directors, actors, stunt-drivers, special effects specialists, designers, motor\u00a0industry\u00a0executives, museum curators and private owners\u00a0to reveal how these incredible vehicles were created \u2013 and to unearth the story of what became of them after filming.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe history of some of these vehicles is unbelievable and rivals even the most far-fetched espionage story,\u201d said Matthew. \u201cTo weave all these extraordinary untold stories among more than\u00a0800\u00a0images, many of which have never been published\u00a0before, is a dream come true.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have been blessed with the cooperation of so many who have entrusted us with their stories for the first time,\u201d said Ajay. \u201cWe have also unearthed 007 vehicles which were thought to have been lost forever.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spy\u00a0Octane\u00a0takes\u00a0readers\u00a0on a fascinating, unique, filmmaking and automotive ride. \u201cMatthew and I realised we’ve written both a film and a vehicular history combined with a modern-day \u2018where are they now?\u2019 tale,\u201d Ajay said. \u201cWe’re very excited to share it with the world.\u201d<\/p>\n