(Photos by Bob Chiluk) – So a while back, BangShift contributor Bob Chiluk called and told us that he had been tipped off to a truckload of James Bond movie cars that were to be arriving in the Chicagoland area where he resides. He wanted to know if we’ d be interested in running photos of said shipment of cool stuff. We first thought that Bob had been in the liquor cabinet again, but he assured that this was all on the up and up and the vehicles would be heading to the Ian Fleming Foundation’s (literally) secret facility outside of Chicago. The whole thing sounded like a Bond plot in itself so we were all in and we’re thankful that Bob was there because the story of the Ian Fleming Foundation and the collection they have amassed is totally 100% awesome.
We’re not sure that there’s a movie hero with the mechanical coolness of James Bond. Yeah, Batmobiles are sweet and Tony Stark has some neat stuff, but the Bond vehicles have always been a cut above the rest. From the Lotus submarine (which Elon Musk just bought, but the model is in this gallery!) to the various bad ass Aston Martins he has driven, Bond’s mechanical cache is beyond any other fictional bad ass.
So what is the Ian Fleming Foundation? We’ll let Colin Clark of the Ian Fleming Foundation tell you:
The Ian Fleming Foundation (the IFF) was co-founded in 1991 by three gentlemen, Mike VanBlaricum, Douglas Redenius and John Cork. Their vision was to begin preserving the legacy of James Bond Author Ian Fleming by acquiring vehicles actually used in the filming of the James Bond Films. Their first vehicle that helped form the IFF would be the Neptune two man semi-submersible submarine in 1981 For Your Eyes Only. The three founders got wind that Neptune known to be stored on the USS Intrepid aircraft carrier in New York was to be acquired by a local Dive Club there, and the Dive Club had plans to sink the Neptune for diving purposes. The Bond Sub would be lost forever. These three barnstormers made the deal and agreed to split the costs to purchase and transport the Sub to the their warehouse in Illinois for restoration.
Since that time the Foundation has been able acquire 36 Bond vehicles to its archive. IFF Board Members assist in operating the non-for profit Foundation with offices in Los Angeles and Illinois. Mr. VanBlaricum sits as the President, Mr. Peter Jansen Smith based in London as the Chairman. Mr. Smith was the Literary Agent for Ian Fleming in the late 1950s early 1960s.
The Vehicles are either purchased from various previous owners or they are donated to the Foundation. Some of the vehicles are acquired through trade form other collectors. They arrive in varied levels of dis-repair. Some need little attention, most need complete restoration. The restorations are mostly accomplished at the IFF’s warehouse outside the Chicago area through its many volunteer and their intense efforts and passions for Fleming and Bond. When the vehicles are completed, they are on display for lease at private or public events, museums, parades or provided for charity outings. All income goes straight back to the restoration and preservation of the vehicles.
So the photos you see here are of some recently acquired vehicles heading into the collection and some of the existing vehicles that were on loan coming back home. You’ll recognize all of them from the various Bond movies over the years and we think that it is great this group exists and is keeping the history of these things alive. So much work went into crafting them in the first place that they deserve to be saved and displayed!
Oh, who else thinks that it’s beyond cool this group operates out of a non-nondescript barn at an unknown Illinois farm. PERFECT!
HIT THE LINK BELOW TO SEE ALL OF BOB CHILUK’S PHOTOS FROM THE IAN FLEMING FOUNDATION’S SECRET LAIR!
I want the Hornet from Man With The Golden Gun. I wonder where it ended up?
Uh oh. I live 70 Miles Southwest of Chicago. I think i might have to take a ride some day and try to find this place.;)