Diamonds Are Forever - James Bond Mach1

[BinaryBo]

Very detailed observations and Welcome to the Site. Please post up an introduction thread! ::welcome::

Thanks! Will do

- Bo

Yes, I have seen 160938 after the repaint; it's on display, locally. The museum is strangely casual (not a single guardrail around one of the Goldeneye DB5s - you can walk right up to it), so I may be able to get photos if I speak with the curator.

The bodywork on the nose was well done though, so I suspect that any of the damage that may have been on the car prior to the repaint is gone. Keep in mind that the grille and hood already had been fiddled with during its Keswick days as well, and it doesn't show the damage before or after its modifications back to stock spec:

That's cool you are so close. I've been wanting to make a trip down there to see it, but its too far and I'm too busy right now.

I'm sure they would have fixed any dents before the repaint...but it would be very hard to remove all evidence of a dent that big in the quarter panel if you viewed it from inside the trunk. Though what is claimed is this is the alley stunt car that was filmed on May 25, 1971 at Universal Studios backlot in Los Angeles. That car had a roll bar in it at that time. There was also a stunt car with what appears to be an identical roll roll bar in it during the filming in Los Vegas in April, 1971. I'm wondering if 160938 is that same car....

There is enough evidence to put 160938 as a DAF car, but it would need to have evidence of a dent in the quarter panel, or evidence of a roll bar with the same mounting points to determine which car it was.

- Bo

Would these features match 100097, by any chance?

Do you mean 100076?

100076 is very close to the "hero" car, but has 3 discrepencies based on its original invoice:

- The tires - which could have easily been changed

- Ram-Air hood - which could have been easily changed and Alameda says the car had a non ram-air hood when he purchased it

- Deluxe seat belts - 100076 should have had red seat belts originally. Pictures of 100076 in 1996 (published in MM article) show the car with black seat belts. The "hero" car had black seat belts. These could have been changed...but seems a highly unlikely detail to modify before filming.

- Bo

 

[cudak888]

That's cool you are so close. I've been wanting to make a trip down there to see it, but its too far and I'm too busy right now.

I'm sure they would have fixed any dents before the repaint...but it would be very hard to remove all evidence of a dent that big in the quarter panel if you viewed it from inside the trunk. Though what is claimed is this is the alley stunt car that was filmed on May 25, 1971 at Universal Studios backlot in Los Angeles. That car had a roll bar in it at that time. There was also a stunt car with what appears to be an identical roll roll bar in it during the filming in Los Vegas in April, 1971. I'm wondering if 160938 is that same car....

There is enough evidence to put 160938 as a DAF car, but it would need to have evidence of a dent in the quarter panel, or evidence of a roll bar with the same mounting points to determine which car it was.

I should be able to get a look at the trunk, if they grant me the opportunity. In fact, more likely the trunk than the interior, for the canted display makes opening the door a risky move.

Do you have a screenshot showing where the roll bar should have been mounted? I'm betting that the roll bar isn't there anymore, but since the car is raised on its left side, I should be able to get a very good look at the bottom to see if there are any rollbar mounting holes left in the floor pans.

Do you mean 100076?

100076 is very close to the "hero" car, but has 3 discrepencies based on its original invoice:

- The tires - which could have easily been changed

- Ram-Air hood - which could have been easily changed and Alameda says the car had a non ram-air hood when he purchased it

- Deluxe seat belts - 100076 should have had red seat belts originally. Pictures of 100076 in 1996 (published in MM article) show the car with black seat belts. The "hero" car had black seat belts. These could have been changed...but seems a highly unlikely detail to modify before filming.

Yes, I meant 100076; my mistake.

I take it you have the Marti reports for all?

-Kurt

 

[BinaryBo]

I should be able to get a look at the trunk, if they grant me the opportunity. In fact, more likely the trunk than the interior, for the canted display makes opening the door a risky move.

Do you have a screenshot showing where the roll bar should have been mounted? I'm betting that the roll bar isn't there anymore, but since the car is raised on its left side, I should be able to get a very good look at the bottom to see if there are any rollbar mounting holes left in the floor pans.

The first 3 were taken on 05/25/71 in Los Angeles

The 4th one was taken on 06/04/71 in Las Vegas

The 5th and 6th were taken around 04/13/71 in Las Vegas

I take it you have the Marti reports for all?

The invoices for 100066 and 100076 are posted on this page, as well as the Marti Report for 100066:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/234286/thread/1219631751/Diamonds+are+Forever+Car+on+Ebay

I'll order a report for 160938...thats a good idea.

- Bo

 

[cudak888]

Excellent screenshots. I'm wondering whether that roll bar mounted directly to the floor, or whether it was bolted to the side of the floor pan (much harder to see, but - in retrospect - it would have been needlessly difficult to mount as such).

That rear window photo is particularly excellent, as it shows that the rear braces are welded to a connector which appears to run from one side of the car to another, which means I should find a couple of holes in the interior side panels if unrestored - but I wonder just where it was welded to. It looks a bit high and forward to be welded to the front of the inner wheelhouse.

At any rate, the roll cage is long gone; I don't believe the car had it at Keswick either.

I'll order a report for 160938...thats a good idea.

Could you forward me a copy when it arrives? That might just convince them that I'm serious about the authentication of the car.

-Kurt

P.S.: Not to take this off subject, but have you uncovered anything about Toby Halicki's Eleanors?

 

[BinaryBo]

Excellent screenshots. I'm wondering whether that roll bar mounted directly to the floor, or whether it was bolted to the side of the floor pan (much harder to see, but - in retrospect - it would have been needlessly difficult to mount as such).

That rear window photo is particularly excellent, as it shows that the rear braces are welded to a connector which appears to run from one side of the car to another, which means I should find a couple of holes in the interior side panels if unrestored - but I wonder just where it was welded to. It looks a bit high and forward to be welded to the front of the inner wheelhouse.

Here are a couple pictures of the connector bar in the back window and another 3 continuous shots of the rear brace. Theses shots may help determine exactly where the rear braces were mounted. It looks like the connector bar is a little too high to meet the rear braces. Note the first of the 3 is almost exactly perpendicular to the car.

- Bo

Could you forward me a copy when it arrives? That might just convince them that I'm serious about the authentication of the car.

P.S.: Not to take this off subject, but have you uncovered anything about Toby Halicki's Eleanors?

Sure, I'll send you a copy.

I'm still researching the Halicki Eleanors. There were at least 2 and the main, beat up car is still around. I would like to get the VIN for both of them.

- Bo

 

[BinaryBo]

Here are a couple pictures of the connector bar in the back window and another 3 continuous shots of the rear brace....

I watched this scene again frame by frame, I think what looks like a "connector bar" is actually just the red top of the back seat in the UP position.

- Bo

 

[cudak888]

Editing the post to start it off with the best stuff first - the photos!

1F05M160938

The non-original fender that got substituted on the car for whatever reason - complete with weird, Bondoed-in end cap, and Mustang II antenna (more on that later)

1F05M160938

1F05M160938

Old photos show that this car had its original grille chopped up to install two round foglights in place of the Mach lights. The grille was later changed to an original piece, but someone didn't do a good job of installing it:

1F05M160938

The car's condition at Keswick was considerably faded - it was painted here in Miami by the Dezer Collection before being put on display. The rear stripes (the only correct stripes for the moulding/no side stripe cars) was omitted.

1F05M160938

Evidence of a nice ground hit. Note dented and punctured oil pan.

1F05M160938

More ground damage.

1F05M160938

Moulding lines up quite well. There is one other scene this car may have been used in, and this moulding might be the key.

1F05M160938

The "hero car" used in the scenes outside Willard Whyte's desert lab, at the gas station, in most of the Las Vegas shots, and almost all closeups acquired a large dent in the rear quarter panel. Though the metal does not appear perfectly smooth, I have no reason to believe the dented car and the Dezer car share anything in common - the dented car has black seatbelts, the Dezer car has red.

1F05M160938

Interior. Odd selection of stuff and modifications.

1F05M160938

14" wheels.

1F05M160938

Mustang II antenna:

1F05M160938

Not a good picture, but I ran my fingers through that hole in the carpet. There is no insulation in this location, and I felt the holes for the rollcage.

1F05M160938

As I mentioned, the RH fender has been replaced - here, we see it was replaced with that from a car that originally had a wheel arch moulding, due to the screw holes. However, BOTH fenders (see photo #7) have the clip you see in this photo. Is it part of the hardware used to hold the wheel arch trim down? If so, someone took the clip off the donor car and put it on the LH fender, which has no evidence of having been tapped, and should be original to the car:

1F05M160938

1982 Florida inspection sticker. Works with the previous ownership history of the VIN.

1F05M160938

Under the hood. When we tried to lift it any further, the rear LH of the hood scraped against the LH fender. Bodyshop didn't do a good job of lining everything up. Also note dizzy cap hanging about. 351C, as expected - this car matches it's Marti report to a T. Note that the radiator has been punched upwards on the RH side.

1F05M160938

1F05M160938

-Kurt

 

[Boss1Ray]

I'd say that plate under the leaf spring eyelet but must admit it is just a guess. The interior had an added choke? cable under the dash and of course the radio is incorrect for any 71-3 Mustang even though it might be a Ford unit.

Ray

 

[cudak888]

I'd say that plate under the leaf spring eyelet but must admit it is just a guess.

Nailed it on the first try. Want to take a guess at what it is for?

As for the choke and other modifications, suffice it to say there are a number of customary "bad mechanics quick-fixes" throughout this car. Oil pan appears to have a hole in it too.

-Kurt

 

[73vertproject]

OK, I'm curious. What's it for? :huh:

 

[Don65Stang]

... Oil pan appears to have a hole in it too.

-Kurt

That'll ruin you're day if you didn't know about it before you turned the key.

 

[Boss1Ray]

Does the spring perch 'wind up' or move a little when you get on it? If that is true - maybe a poor attempt at traction control?

The more I guess the more stupid I sound... But hey - I'm trying. LOL

Ray

 

[72HCODE]

that front eyelet mount on the leaf springs is prone to cracking and can get rust damage. looks like they boxed it to try and make it stronger. but it will be hell trying to get the bolt out of the leaf, most likely it was just welded on after so that means you will need to cut it off to get the leafs off and change the rubber bushing.

 

[mdan575]

that front eyelet mount on the leaf springs is prone to cracking and can get rust damage. looks like they boxed it to try and make it stronger. but it will be hell trying to get the bolt out of the leaf, most likely it was just welded on after so that means you will need to cut it off to get the leafs off and change the rubber bushing.

Ah the joys of cutting that leaf spring bolt. Had to do that on my car about 6 years ago to get the bolt out. Not much fun and a whole lot of cussing occured that day.

 

[cudak888]

OK, I'm curious. What's it for? :huh:

It's for Buzz Bundy's rollcage.

That a big enough hint?

-Kurt

 

[Jeff73Mach1]

"Diamonds are Forever" stunt car?

 

[cudak888]

"Diamonds are Forever" stunt car?

Bingo. This is the undercarriage of 1F05M160938. I'm working with Bo Durban of In Search of Mustangs along with the Dezer Collection on identifying its specific scenes in the film.

Quite a few more photos to come of it.

-Kurt

 

[73vertproject]

Wow. That's pretty awesome!

 

[cudak888]

Wow. That's pretty awesome!

That it is, though it appears (don't quote me on this - Bo hasn't chimed in on it either to check my theory either) that this is probably the car that was used for the retake of the alley exit. My theory is that it was not used for any other scene.

Additionally, neither of the known 429 cars are matching up to what should be the 429 car on screen. There is more here than meets the eye.

Photos in 15.

-Kurt

 

[caspianwendell]

Cool info going on here