In the 50 years since Bond first graced cinema screens in 1962's Dr. No, many of the spy's gadgets have gone from 'his eyes only' to commonplace, such as the pager in From Russia With Love or the gadget that looked a lot like a Microsoft Surface in Quantum Of Solace. However her Majesty's finest still has tried some of the best conceptual gadgets in cinema history; below is a round-up of some of the coolest, not yet commercially available toys that Q branch has to offer.
Aston Martin DB5 with ejector seat in Goldfinger (1964)
Q branch's gadget wizardry first really surpasses itself in 1964's Goldfinger where Bond got behind the wheel of an Aston Martin DB5, later to become his signature car. Bond's DB5 was kitted out with revolving license plates, for avoiding detection, ‘spinner' hubcaps that could be used to slash tires, a bulletproof rear shield, machine guns hidden behind the headlights, smoke and oil slick sprayers and best of all - a passenger ejector seat which is used to great effect later in the film.
Watch Bond's DB5 in action in Goldfinger at: http://goo.gl/4SMuh
Underwater jetpack in Thunderball (1965)
During the final battle scene of Thunderball, Bond, played by Sean Connery, takes on SPECTRE henchmen underwater with the aid of a jet pack. The pack allows him to swim faster than anyone else and is equipped with explosive spear guns and a frontal headlight.
Watch Bond's underwater jetpack in action at: http://goo.gl/qs7hk
‘Little Nellie' in You Only Live Twice (1967)
One of James Bond's best gadgets, ‘Little Nellie' is a Wallis WA-116 Series gyroplane complete with rocket launchers, machine guns, flame throwers and air mines. ‘Little Nellie' -- or at least the Wallis WA-116 -- really existed, without the armaments, being developed in the 1960s by former British Air Force Wing Commander Ken Wallis, although they are not available to buy commercially. In the film You Only Live Twice Bond takes on, and defeats, SPECTRE's helicopters using Little Nellie.
Watch ‘Little Nellie' in action at: http://goo.gl/yXhmn
Submersible -Lotus Esprit in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
Customized by Q branch, Bond's Lotus Esprit in The Spy Who Loved Me not only packs machine guns behind the headlights, surface-to-air missiles and landmines but can also be used underwater. In the film, Bond, after a climactic chase, drives the car off a pier; once underwater the wheels retract, bars come across the windows and windshield and dive planes emerge on the side of the car allowing it to be used underwater.
Watch Bond take a dive in his Esprit at: http://goo.gl/XjGGG
Q Boat in The World Is Not Enough (1999)
Built by Q for his retirement, Pierce Brosnan's Bond ‘borrows' the Q boat to pursue an assassin down the river Thames. The boat comes equipped with torpedoes, a jet propulsion system, the ability to dive and even travel through city streets should the need arise.
Watch the Q boat in action at: http://goo.gl/bJrOg