It’s wonderful what the starring function in a James Bond film can do to a automobile’s popularity. What different reason why would there be for ten-year-old me to gather Corgi fashions of a 1.8-litre BMW Z3 (with the discussed however by no means noticed missiles), an AEC Regent double-decker bus (the highest section got here off and it used to be ace) and a Renault 11 taxi (er, the boot opened)? And whilst Aston Martin can conveniently stand by itself two legs with out Bond’s lend a hand, it without a doubt doesn’t harm to have 007 mucking about in a single each every now and then.

Again to BMW, and to most likely one of the vital difficult to understand Bond automobiles of the lot: the 750iL. Sure, it’s nowhere close to as shoddy because the aforementioned bus and taxi, however the ones weren’t right kind Bond mobiles prepped by means of Q’s workshop. The 7 Collection used to be, alternatively, and even supposing the E38 used to be about as sublime as a four-door limo might be, it wasn’t precisely as much as snuff by means of Bond automobile requirements. And but a collection of roof rockets, Ericsson-controlled steerage and a large V12 cemented it as a 007 legend in my ebook. Wind the clock ahead to the current day and the hankering for a 750iL has handiest grown more potent.

Additionally, the E38 seems arguably much more magnificent in 2024 than it did 30 years in the past. You should argue it has its successor to thank for that (particularly the pre-facelifted E65, although not one of the follow-up 7s were actual lookers), however for a automobile weighing the most efficient a part of two tonnes and designed to ferry about dignitaries, it’s strangely sleek. This 1999 automobile handiest stocks its M Recreation wheels with the Bond automobile, however is the entire higher for it. The Aegean Blue Metal paintwork over Biscuit leather-based is an unbelievable mixture, although it is the blue carpets, seat piping or even inside plastics that make this spec much more particular.

Oh, and the 5.4-litre V12 up entrance, in fact. The M73 can’t lay declare to powering a Le Mans winner, although it used to be an evolution of the motor that, in a single shape or some other, used to be bolted to the McLaren F1 and BMW V12 LMR. Clearly, the 750iL is healthier fitted to an autobahn than the Mulsanne Immediately, with its twelve-cylinder turning in a extra modest (however nonetheless beautiful punchy by means of Nineteen Nineties requirements) 326hp and 361lb toes of torque, all despatched thru a five-speed automated for max go with the flow.

Assisting mentioned go with the flow used to be self-levelling suspension and BMW’s digital damper regulate gadget, which might have helped isolate Nineteen Nineties VIPs from the horrors of Britain’s roads. They’d additionally get pleasure from additional legroom (that is the lengthy wheelbase automobile, in the end), picket picnic tables, a fax connector and the necessary ’90s phone that almost definitely doesn’t paintings to any extent further, although we might all luckily be confirmed unsuitable on that. What does paintings, as wired by means of the vendor, is the mini refrigerator tucked between the rear armrest. Outcome.

With V12 energy, superb spec and relative rarity (HowManyLeft says there are 24 left at the highway and 79 SORN’d), you’d be expecting this 750iL to be lumped with a collector-grade price ticket or perhaps a POA. However no, Munich Legends desires £26,995 for it, confirming that the entire equipment works because it will have to and that the engine’s operating easily “with a couple of bits tidied up”. Most likely it’s the Bond-loving aspect of my mind speaking, however for a high quality, 44,000-mile instance of arguably the most efficient 7 Collection there’s ever been, this one turns out like a little of a no brainer. 

Engine: 5,379cc V12
Transmission: five-speed auto, rear-wheel power
Energy (hp): 326@5,000rpm
Torque (lb toes): 361@3,900rpm
MPG: 19.9
CO2: 327g/km
12 months registered: 1999
Recorded mileage: 44,000
Worth new: N/A
Yours for: £26,995