Report from the private event for Spy Octane (2025) at the Royal Automobile Club in London

By: Anders Frejdh

Published:
2025-12-22

Spy Octane, Royal Automobile Club, private event, London

Report from the private event for Matthew Field and Ajay Chowdhury's fantastic book Spy Octane: The Vehicles Of James Bond (published by Porter Press International) at the Royal Automobile Club in London on 20th November 2025.

It was a wonderful evening in the company of familiar faces from the Bond Community. All thanks to Matthew Field and Ajay Chowdhury who graciously invited their man from Station S.

The private event, held at the Royal Automobile Club in London's Pall Mall, was organised to celebrate the publication of Spy Octane: The Vehicles of James Bond with those who contributed to the book.

Spy Octane, Royal Automobile Club, book, event

Spy Octane, Royal Automobile Club, book, event

A bonus during the event was to see one of the three Mercury Cougar cars used during the filming of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service starring George Lazenby up close. For those of you who don't know, I helped to find and locate one of the other two Cougars back in 2007 as it ended up in Sweden of all places. That one is now part of The Ian Fleming Foundation collection and was recently displayed at the International Spy Museum in Washington D.C.

Matthew Field, Spy Octane, Royal Automobile Club, event

Matthew Field, Spy Octane, Royal Automobile Club, event

Co-author Matthew Field signing copies of Spy Octane at Royal Automobile Club in London.

Matt and Ajay's fantastic Spy Octane book is a real treasure trove of new and interesting information. Not just for James Bond aficionados but very much also for all car enthusiasts. Read Brian James Smith review of the book for more information.

Mercury Cougar XR-7, Spy Octane, Royal Automobile Club, event

Mercury Cougar XR-7, Spy Octane, Royal Automobile Club, event

One of the three Mercury Cougar XR-7 cars used in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service at the Royal Automobile Club in London.

Special guests in attendance included:

• Mike Ashley sales manager of Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd during the Goldfinger (1964)/Thunderball (1965) years.

• Iain Heggie, son of Steve Heggie, managing director of Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd during the Goldfinger/Thunderball years.

• Dave Worrall, author of The Most Famous Car In The World: The Complete History of the James Bond Aston Martin DB5 and Editorial and Visual Producer of Spy Octane.

• Doug Redenius, co-founder/archivist of The Ian Fleming Foundation and Editorial Consultant of Spy Octane.

• Robert Hurdle, Bristol-based American car collector and once owner of the Mercury Cougar XR-7 car (one of the three Cougar cars used for the filming) from On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

• Udey Chowdhury representing Ajay Chowdhury, co-author of Spy Octane.

• Philip and Julie Porter of Porter Press International, publisher of Spy Octane.

• Mark Witherspoon of The Fridge Club and pictorial consultant on Spy Octane.

• Mark O'Connell, 007 commentator and author of Catching Bullets: Memoirs Of A Bond Fan.

And yours truly of Anders Frejdh Talent Management AB, George Lazenby's manager and research consultant on Spy Octane.

Julie Porter, Spy Octane, Royal Automobile Club, book, event

Julie Porter, Spy Octane, Royal Automobile Club, book, event

Julie Porter with a copy of Spy Octane at Royal Automobile Club in London.

Anders Frejdh, Udey Chowdhury, Spy Octane, Royal Automobile Club, book, event

Anders Frejdh, Udey Chowdhury, Spy Octane, Royal Automobile Club, book, event

Anders Frejdh and Udey Chowdhury at Royal Automobile Club in London.

Photo on top:
From left to right: Robert Hurdle, Dave Worrall, Matthew Field, Philip Porter, Mike Ashley, Udey Chowdhury, Anders Frejdh, and Doug Redenius.

Photography by Mark Witherspoon. All rights reserved.

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Report from the private event for Spy Octane (2025) at the Royal Automobile Club in London

Special guests in attendance included:

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