james bond | GIZMODO.cz

What you actually see here is a one-off submersible that is equally capable above the surface as it is underwater. For anyone who remembers the futuristic watercraft showcased in the James Bond film Spectre, there is now a rare opportunity to own one of the strangest and most ambitious vehicles ever built. Called the Scubacraft SC3, the experimental vessel was developed during the late 2000s as a functioning prototype that blurred the line between speedboat and personal submarine.

Unlike many fictional gadgets seen in Bond movies, the SC3 was not a movie prop designed solely for visual appeal. It was engineered as a real-world concept capable of operating both on the water’s surface and beneath it. The project reportedly attracted interest from the UK Special Boat Service and even DARPA because of its unconventional capabilities and military-style versatility before eventually making its way into the Bond universe. In Spectre, the matte-black machine appeared in Q’s workshop alongside the iconic Aston Martin DB10, instantly becoming one of the more memorable background vehicles in the film.

Designer: Bonhams

Now heading to auction through Bonhams, the SC3 remains the only prototype ever produced, making it less of a practical recreational craft and more of a collectible piece of engineering history. Its rarity is amplified by the fact that no production version ever followed, despite the concept demonstrating genuine functionality both above and below the waterline.

On the surface, the SC3 behaves much like a high-performance jet boat. It is powered by a Kawasaki 1,498cc inline four-cylinder engine connected to a jet-drive propulsion system, allowing it to skim across the water at impressive speeds. The real transformation begins once the craft enters deeper waters. With the underwater mode activated, electrically powered thrusters take over while hydrodynamic control surfaces guide the vessel beneath the surface at speeds of around three knots.

Unlike traditional submarines, however, the SC3 does not feature a sealed or pressurized cabin. Occupants are exposed directly to the surrounding water and must wear full diving gear before submersion. This open-water diving approach significantly reduces complexity and weight while creating an experience closer to underwater flight than conventional submarine travel. The setup accommodates three people, including the driver and two passengers, all seated in exposed racing-style seats integrated into the craft’s lightweight body.

Visually, the SC3 still looks every bit like a futuristic Bond vehicle. The original composite plastic bodywork remains intact, paired with carbon-fiber construction elements and upholstered leather racing seats that reinforce its cinematic personality. Its aggressive low-slung silhouette, combined with stealth-inspired matte-black paintwork, gives it an appearance that still feels ahead of its time more than a decade after it was built.

Vehicles attempting to combine marine and underwater transportation are exceptionally rare because of the engineering compromises involved. The SC3 stands out precisely because it became a fully operational prototype rather than a concept sketch or film mock-up. That achievement alone makes it one of the most unusual experimental watercraft ever created and an undeniably fascinating piece of Bond-related automotive history.

The post James Bond-inspired Scubacraft SC3 turns your underwater adventure fantasy into reality first appeared on Yanko Design.

Goldfinger will rekindle so many memories in numerous 007 fans. The cars, the music, and the one-liners of this first Bond blockbuster, and perhaps to date, the most revered James Bond movie, live on with us since the 1964 film was released. Now, to mark its 60th anniversary, Globe-Trotter has made a limited-edition suitcase collection that all bond fans would want to lay their hands on, if their budget permits that is!

The James Bond Carry-On Trolley Case is inspired by the gadget-packed Silver Birch Aston Martin DB5 and the grey and white glen check three-piece suit in which Bond drove the DB5. The modern luggage with hints of the iconic past will be released in an exclusive limited edition of 60 examples only.

Designer: Globe-Trotter

Globe-Trotter is a team of highly skilled artisans based in Herefordshire, England. Reckoned for their handcrafted suitcases and travel accessories, their ways of manufacturing and machinery date back to the Victorian era, a glimpse of which is apparent also in the Goldfinger 60th Anniversary Numbered Edition Carry-On Trolley.

Globe-Trotter has made the suitcase worthy of James Bond from vulcanized fiberboard panels, a material first invented in the 1850s, with properties stronger than leather and as light as aluminum. Replicating the DB5’s Silver Birch finish from the iconic movie, the suitcase, on four wheels, has a gloss metallic silver exterior accentuated by black leather trims for the straps and on the corners. Reportedly, the leather corners are molded on Victorian press machines over five days for their form and strength.

Things are equally engrossing and detailed on the inside where the fabric lining is digitally imposed with Bond’s three-piece glen check suit. The co-branded leather patch is engraved with ‘Goldfinger Sixty Years’ and the Globe Trotter logo with the individual number of each case. The branding also carries on multiple places on the exterior.

The James Bond Carry-On Trolley suitcase weighs 4.2kg and measures H55cm, W40cm, D21cm. Owing to the size and character, this can be your ideal partner on flights if you have £3,895 GBP (approximately $5,000) to shell for the cabin bag. Available to pre-order, the cases will begin shipping in mid-late October with a choice of three license plate charms on James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 in the UK, France and Switzerland.