Pierce Brosnan received an Aston Martin for his role in ‘Die Another Day,’ but now only the build plaques remain.

      HaphazardStuff via Instagram

      The latest car news and reviews, no nonsense

      Subscribe to our free daily newsletter for the stories that truly matter, delivered straight to you every weekday.

      It’s challenging to argue that Die Another Day is a standout James Bond film, but it accomplished one significant feat for the franchise: it brought 007 back together with Aston Martin. Pierce Brosnan, who portrayed Bond, was so taken with his character’s new vehicle that he decided to purchase one for himself. Unfortunately, the Aston Martin Vanquish did not survive to see another day.

      In an Instagram reel shared by HaphazardStuff, Brosnan reveals that he inquired about acquiring a Vanquish during the film's production. A build slot was subsequently arranged for him. Brosnan mentioned visiting the factory to watch his car being assembled, and three months following the conclusion of filming for Die Another Day, it was delivered. Tragically, on February 11, 2015, a fire at Brosnan’s home in Malibu, California, consumed the car.

      According to HaphazardStuff, all that remains are two plaques on the kick plates stating “Hand built in England for Pierce Brosnan.” A sad conclusion for such an impressive vehicle.

      Featured in Die Another Day, the original Vanquish was a highlight of Aston Martin’s resurgence in the 1990s under Ford’s ownership. It enhanced the design language first seen with the DB7 and boasted the power of Aston’s 5.9-liter V12 engine. The early models generated 460 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque, allowing the Vanquish to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.0 seconds and achieve a top speed of 190 mph, as per Aston’s claims. The subsequent Vanquish S, launched in 2005, had 520 hp and 426 lb-ft of torque. Although an underdeveloped paddle-shifted six-speed gearbox somewhat diminished the experience, the Vanquish remained highly coveted by a new generation.

      And this was before it hit the big screen. Die Another Day marked Brosnan’s final Bond film, and he had driven a BMW in all of his previous outings. The Vanquish felt fitting not only because it was an Aston but also because it was outfitted with machine guns that emerged from the hood vents and rockets from the grille. Additionally, it featured adaptive camouflage—famously dubbed “the Vanish” by Q—and remote-control capabilities previously seen in Tomorrow Never Dies. This led to an appropriately over-the-top car chase with the villain’s Jaguar XKR convertible on a glacier. It’s unfortunate that the rest of the film didn’t match that level of excitement.

      That car chase was filmed using four-wheel-drive vehicles constructed from Vanquish body shells and Ford Explorer V8 engines and drivetrains. However, some actual Vanquishes were utilized as “hero cars” for close-up shots and promotional events. One of those was listed for sale in 2024 with an asking price of $129,000, which is still less than a new Vanquish that continues the V12 legacy and, unlike the original, is also available in convertible Volante form. It seems like the ideal vehicle for whoever the next Bond may be.

      Have a tip? Reach out to us at tips@thedrive.com.