Website last updated: 10-8-2024

Special James Bond 007 Museum Opens

By: Anders Frejdh
Published:
2009-03-29
James bond 007 museum keswick
The James Bond museum (run by Peter Nelson) re-opens in North England. The museum is built up by one of the largest collection of genuine screen-used James Bond vehicles.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE: (Keswick, Cumbria, UK - March 29, 2009)

An exciting new museum will open in the Lake District on the 5th of April 2009. The Bond Museum is the brainchild of Peter Nelson who has been collecting James Bond items for 20 years and now has the biggest private collection in the world. The museum will feature several Aston Martin and Lotus cars used in the Bond films along side many other vehicles including the actual Russian T55 main battle tank used in the film Goldeneye, as well as boats, planes and even a Bell Jetranger helicopter.

The 5th of April 2009 is also a very special date being the 100th anniversary of the birth of the late Albert R. (Cubby) Broccoli. As a tribute to the Bond producer Nelson will unveil a bust on that date at the museum.

Nelson has also collected many of the props from the films, several being donated by many of the actors and crew. One of the iconic items on display will be the original Colibri Golden Gun plus many Q gadgets. However, it is the vehicles, many of which have never been seen by the public which will form the centre piece of the museum.

Nelson also owns the now famous Cars of the Stars Motor Museum in the town, but because the current museum is too small to house his large collection of Bond vehicles it had to have a new purpose built site close by.

“This will be a museum dedicated to the fans of 007” states Nelson, who was a school boy when he first read the books of Ian Fleming and later became a fan himself of the films. “Like many others I have grown up with James Bond and its fantastic that the franchise continues in the very capable hands of the Fleming family, Barbara Broccoli, Michael G. Wilson and family” says Nelson.

But Nelson has had his problems building such a major attraction, namely the sheer cost of the project. At one time Nelson thought about selling the entire collection and did approach Christies, but on reflection he felt that it would be a shame to split the collection up since it is one of great historic as well as cultural importance.

“Fans of Bond will want to see this collection in it’s entirety” Nelson states. And he has ensured that the museum has been completed to a standard that will impress visitors and also help to promote the films and the books. “New Bond books have been written, but you simply can’t equal Fleming: he was an outstanding author“, says Nelson.

He also states that he is a great admirer of the work of Cubby Broccoli who he sites as a genius in his ability in finding and attracting the very best cast and crew for the films. “The most amazing thing is that Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson have been able to carry on Cubby’s superb legacy extremely well indeed, which was no mean feat.”

The museum will be open from the 5th April 10am to 5pm. The unveiling of Nelsons bust of ‘Cubby’ at 10am on that morning.

The James Bond museum in Keswick consist of the following items:
1. Vanquish Aston Martin from DIE ANOTHER DAY – the actual hero car used by Pierce Brosnan in the film
2. DB5 Uncle/ GOLDFINGER – The actual gadget laden car used in period Man from Uncle film, driven by James Bond. The original car was stolen.
3. DB5 from GOLDENEYE– The actual hero car used by Piece Brosnan in the film
4. Aston Martin V8 – THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS – The actual car used in the film
5. Aston Martin DBS – ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE – The actual car used in the film
6. Lotus Esprit S1 from THE SPY WHO LOVED ME – The actual car used in the film
7. The Underwater Submarine from THE SPY WHO LOVED ME – The actual submarine used
8. Lotus Esprit Turbo white – FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – The actual car used in the film
9. Lotus Esprit Turbo copper – FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – The actual car used in the film
10. Scaramanga’s car – THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN – The actual car used in the film
11. Mustang from DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER – The actual two wheel stunt car
12. General Ouromov’s Volga from GOLDENEYE – The actual car used in the film
13. Renault Taxi from A VIEW TO A KILL – The actual car used in the film
14. Tuk Tuk taxi – Both goodies and baddies from OCTOPUSSY. The actual vehicles used in the film
15. Dragon tank – DR NO – a recreation for a major Bond event
16. Mini Bede jet – OCTOPUSSY – From The Ian Fleming Foundation.
17. Skiddoo – DIE ANOTHER DAY – The actual vehicle from the film
18. Parahawk – THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH – The actual vehicle from the film
19. Jet Pack – THUNDERBALL with a figure of Sean Connery. Especially build for a major show but some original parts included
20. Toyota 2000 GT – YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE – Thought to be one of only two/three in the World – with the original control panel from the film fitted
21. Q Boat – THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH – The actual car/boat used in the film
22. Fairey Huntress – FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE – The actual boat used in the film
23. BMW Motorcycle – TOMORROW NEVER DIES. Both bikes including Pierre Goys own bike
24. Cagiva – GOLDENEYE – The actual bike used in the film
25. Rocket firing Motorcycle from THUNDERBALL – The actual one used in the film
26. THE SPY WHO LOVED ME bike with exploding side car – The actual one used in the film
27. Space Shuttle – Model – The actual one used in the film MOONRAKER
28. The Hovercraft from DIE ANOTHER DAY – The actual one used in the film
29. The Glastron Speedboat from LIVE AND LET DIE – The actual one used in the film – the gold boat that Bond drives through wedding party
30. Various other show/promotional items and vehicles. inc. the red Glastron GT150 boat (claimed to be original but no docs!)
31. Small Mig fighter from GOLDENEYE. Citroen 2cv display – model and full size
32. THE SPY WHO LOVED ME - Pinewood reunion Wetbike
33. The actual Landrover from CASINO ROYALE
34. Little Nel. Second cousin twice removed of Little Nellie! Exhibition autogyro
35. The ‘Pinewood’ THE SPY WHO LOVED ME Stromberg Black 206 Jet Ranger Helicopter
36. BMW 750iL from TOMORROW NEVER DIES – with the actual blue screen Ericcson telephone
37. Triumph Stag used by Sean Connery in DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER
38. Tank from GOLDENEYE model – The actual one used in the film
39. The actual Beach Buggy used in the film FOR YOUR EYES ONLY
40. The actual Russian T55 main battle tank from GOLDENEYE

Editor's note:
For more James Bond exhibitions presented on From Sweden with Love, click here.

For more information, visit the new museum site below:

www.thebondmuseum.com

Tags:

#exhibitions

Tag Cloud

Bond 25 Bond girls Bond villains Britt Ekland Daniel Craig Dolph Lundgren George Lazenby Izabella Scorupco James Bond museum Kristina Wayborn Mary Stavin Maud Adams No Time To Die Ola Rapace Pierce Brosnan Roger Moore Sean Connery Spectre Timothy Dalton
 

All information, text and graphics (unless otherwise stated) on this website are protected by copyright law. Please contact us to use anything.

This website is not in any way endorsed by EON Productions Ltd, Danjaq, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Sony Pictures, United Artists, Ian Fleming Publications, or any other James Bond copyright holders. It is an independently run non-profit website from a personal basis in spare time.

James Bond film images © 1962 - 2024 EON Productions Ltd, Danjaq LLC, MGM Inc. and United Artists Cooperation.

James Bond book covers © 1953 - 2024 Ian Fleming Publications and Glidrose Productions Ltd.

Founder & Managing Editor: Anders Frejdh