Bond in Motion: Exhibition at Brussels Expo in December to mark 60 years of James Bond films

Since James Bond roared onto the big screen in Dr No in 1962, a succession of sleek and high-speed vehicles have fuelled the adventures of world-famous spy 007.

Now the latest Bond in Motion exhibition is on its way to Brussels, celebrating 60 years of Bond films by showing off some of the superhero’s most iconic cars, bikes, boats and planes.

Brussels Expo will host one of the stylish shows in town from 9 December to 14 May. The immersive experience within a black box space of 6,000m2 is set to be filled with some 50 unique and sleek vehicles from the franchise’s 25 films. They’ll be presented around four themes: earth, water, air and fire.

Helping to set the scene from many of the films’ memorable moments will be an array of gadgets and props. Among the smaller items are watches, passports and other evocative objects. Meanwhile, models and maquettes will show the ‘making of’ many of the thrilling special effects that characterise Bond movies.

Among the mythical cars to be brought to Brussels, is the Sunbeam Alpine coupé that James Bond drove in Dr No. Over the ensuing decades, the suave spy drove himself out of trouble on numerous occasions thanks to the help of Q Branch and an endless supply of inventive gadgets.

Bond became famous for his fidelity to Aston Martins, equipped with various high-tech devices. Both the mythical 1964 DB5 and the latest DBS Superlegera from No Time To Die are on display, along with Wet Nellie, the submarine in the form of a Lotus Esprit S1, from 1977’s The Spy Who Loved Me.

Joining them are the unique Q Boat from 1999's The World is Not Enough, Little Nellie, the unforgettable autogyro from 1967’s You Only Live Twice and a helicopter from Spectre (2015). Other original spectacular vehicles include a jet pack, hovercraft and glider. Representing the fire element will be some of the vehicles involved in the film’s explosive scenes, such as the charred remains of a London tube carriage.

After two previous, although not identical, exhibitions in the UK and the US, this is Bond in Motion’s first outing in continental Europe.

The exhibition is expected to appeal to film fans and families as well as Bond buffs. An additional attraction is a British restaurant-bar, serving up specialities such as fish & chips and 007’s trademark ‘shaken but not stirred’ vodka martini. A souvenir shop will sell Bond memorabilia.

Various themed events are planned to accompany the show, while screenings of some of the most popular films will take place at neighbouring multiplex cinema Kinepolis.

The exhibition is organised by Carbon 12011 agency with the collaboration of EON Productions, the Ian Fleming Foundation and Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM). It’s supported by the City of Brussels, the Brussels Region and the British Embassy to Belgium.

Photo: (main image) a reproduction Aston Martin sports car outside the British embassy residence in Brussels at press launch (c) Sarah Crew