The 1974 AMC Hornet X is responsible for one of the most unforgettable automotive moments in James Bond history. In The Man with the Golden Gun, Roger Moore’s Bond commandeers the bright red Hornet from an AMC showroom in Bangkok while pursuing Francisco Scaramanga, only to discover that vacationing Sheriff J.W. Pepper is along for the ride. The chase leads Bond to a Thai canal, where he launches the Hornet from a partially collapsed bridge and performs an incredible 360-degree spiral roll before landing safely on the opposite bank. The sequence turned an otherwise modest American hatchback into a genuine Bond car icon.
Even more impressive is that the famous "Astro Spiral" was performed for real, without visual effects. A specially prepared Hornet was modified with a widened chassis and centrally positioned steering so the car would be properly balanced for the jump. The stunt was based on extensive research into the spiral maneuver, and stunt driver Loren "Bumps" Willert successfully completed the spectacular jump in a single filmed take on June 1, 1974. Multiple Hornets were used during production, including more conventional cars for the chase scenes and the heavily modified stunt vehicle for the jump. With its red paint, white striping, Cragar wheels, and extraordinary corkscrew leap, the AMC Hornet earned a lasting place alongside the Aston Martins and Lotuses as one of 007's most memorable movie cars.
Picture by Jaems Bond Lifestyle https://www.jamesbondlifestyle.com/product/amc-hornet-hatchback
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