It was recently revealed that 007 will be driving the new Aston Martin DB10 in the 24th instalment of the James Bond franchise, Spectre. Designed especially for the movie in partnership with director Sam Mendes, it oozes the super-spy cool we expect - and we can't wait to see it in action.

The cars have always been key to the films' success, and fans across the decades have been wowed by slick designs, cool gadgets and incredible speeds. They've been celebrated by model-makers, writers and even museum exhibitions, cementing them as icons in pop culture history.

But what do we make of yesteryear Bond cars today? How are the trends of decades gone by reflected in car designs? Are once-impressive features now underwhelming? Let's take a look.

Sunbeam Alpine, Dr No (1962)

As the first Bond film, Dr No didn't have a blockbuster budget. That's why Sean Connery ended up driving a relatively humble light-blue Sunbeam Alpine. It might not have been the fastest, but it did get 007 beneath a crane that sent Dr No's henchmen, chasing behind in a LaSalle, off a cliff. You can see the car chase here.

The Sunbeam was borrowed from a local in Jamaica to keep costs down. It had whitewall tyres, a mark of luxury in the '50s - you can pick some up from Vintage Tyres.

Aston Martin DB5, Goldfinger (1964)

James Bond's favourite car has to be the iconic Aston Martin DB5, which debuted in Goldfinger and has appeared in a further five films. Q packed the original with gadgets, including an ejector seat that M almost fell victim to in Skyfall. See the Aston Martin website for more information about the British car-maker's relationship with the franchise.

You can give your car a DB5 makeover with silver birch paint, and Carnoisseur has super-slick alloy wheels fit for 007 - although they don't come with a hidden tyre slasher.

Ford Mustang Mach 1, Diamonds are Forever (1971)

One of the most famous cars in movie history, a Ford Mustang Mach 1, was also driven by Steve McQueen in that famous Bullitt chase. In Diamonds are Forever, Bond gets the car on two wheels so he can navigate down an alleyway and escape a police car. Thanks to a movie gaffe, he comes out on a different two wheels than he entered on. Check out the stunt from 3:44 on this YouTube video.

It came in a striking red with the hood and undercarriage painted black. You can find tips for painting your own car here.

BMW Z8, The World Is Not Enough (1999)

After remote-driving his BMW Z8 to his location, Piers Brosnan's Bond fires a missile at the enemy helicopter using the control pad on his steering wheel. That's just before another saw-wielding helicopter cuts the car in half. View the clip here.

The muscular soft-top roadster epitomised the ultimate '90s sports car. BMW hit the jackpot with this inclusion, after providing the relatively unloved Z3 and 750iL for previous 007 instalments.

Aston Martin DBS V12, Casino Royale (2006)

Casino Royale marked the sophisticated modern reboot of the Bond franchise, so the car had to be impressive. They picked the Aston Martin DBS V12, but it wasn't finished in time for filming the crash. An amended DB9 was used instead, and the stuntman earned a Guinness World Record after achieving seven assisted cannon rolls with the car onscreen.

Paul McShane - 10 Dec 2014