This Rare Jaguar Supercar Driven By a Bond Villain in ‘Spectre’ Is Now For Sale
A Formula 1 team engineered the one-of-a-kind Jag to aggressively drift on the cobbled streets of Rome.
RM Sotheby’s is auctioning off one of four Jaguar C-X75 stunt cars featured in a jaw-dropping Spectre chase scene.
James Bond superfans will recognize the gorgeous exotic as the vehicle piloted by Dave Bautista’s villainous assassin, Mr. Hinx, during his adrenaline-pumping pursuit of 007 and his Aston Martin DB10 through the cobbled streets of Rome.
Outside of the Bond universe, the C-X75 is incredibly rare. It first debuted in 2010 as a gas turbine-powered all-wheel drive hybrid before the powertrain was modified to run a four-cylinder. Only five examples were built before the program was cancelled in 2012.
But for the 24th Bond installment, producers commissioned Formula 1 team Williams Advanced Engineering to build four World Rally Championship-spec C-X75s. Numerous modifications were made, beginning with the addition of a steel tubular sub-frame and an extra-travel suspension designed handle steep embankments and drive on sidewalk pavement at speed.
Williams swapped out the hybrid platform for the Jag F-Type’s 492-horsepower V8 and a Ricardo short-travel six-speed transmission, according to Robb Report. The all-wheel drive architecture was also converted to rear-wheel drive, making it easier to initiate burnouts and drifts.
One of the four stunt cars was even made fireproof to film Mr. Hinx’s demise at the means of Bond’s rear-mounted flamethrower. However, this C-X75—chassis no. 24001—was the first of four and served as a “pod car.”
RM Sotheby’s has further details:
Chassis no. 24001 is the first of the four stunt cars built and served as a ‘pod car’. In order for the actors to focus on their reactions and facial close-ups, driving duties for such shots were relegated to a secondary pilot who sat in a pod mounted on the roof.
Because it served in this capacity, this stunt C-X75 endured far less brutal driving than the other three stunt cars, though all of them survived the shoot, a tribute to Williams’s build quality.
After Spectre wrapped, Williams did a full rebuild of the V8 and refitted parts as needed. The interior is still equipped for stunt driving with Recaro sport seats, the hydraulic handbrake, a host of race-car-style dash buttons including a knob to adjust the AP Racing brakes, and a lack of any fine finishes or paneling.
The 2015 Jaguar C-X75 “Spectre” is expected to fetch between $800,000 and $1.2 million at RM Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi auction at the end of the month. Considering that the Goldeneye Aston DB5 bested its pre-auction $2 million estimate when it sold for $2.6 million last year, don’t be surprised if this baddie’s Jag does the same.
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