Bond not stirred by home-built supercar

Feb 17 2009 by Steve Catchpool, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

JAMES Bond was not the only super hero to drive a car made locally.

Huddersfield entrepreneur David Brown bought the Aston Martin company in 1947 and it won Le Mans in 1959 (not 1957 as earlier reported). Last week Austin Holroyd, of Almondbury, explained how many local firms contributed to that success. His wife even baked delicate parts for the race-winning car at home in her kitchen cooker.

And in the 1960s the Aston Martin DB5 – named after David Brown’s initials – became the car of choice for 007 spy James Bond.

Now another old friend, Phil Whittell of Shepley, tells me Bond was not the only special agent to be kitted out with a car locally.

“I was always disappointed that Bond didn't opt for a Nova which was built in Mirfield, especially after Michael Crawford gave the car such a great endorsement in Condorman,” says Phil.

“I think it appeared in a couple more films, but what a shame it never made 007 fame.”

The Nova was a kit-car with futuristic design that was built on a VW Beetle chassis. Vic Elam made it from 1980 to 1982 in Ravensthorpe and from 1982 to 1990 in Mirfield.

The kits were expensive but enthusiasts got an incredible looking sports car that became a best seller around the world.

It first featured in the 1975 sci fi thriller Death Race 2000 that was advertised as: “In the year 2000 hit and run driving is no longer a felony. It’s a national sport.”

Which is almost true. Cannonball Run II, the 1984 Burt Reynolds film, also featured the Nova.

But it had a starring role in Condorman, the Walt Disney comedy-adventure in which Michael Crawford was the super hero: “He Spies, He Flies, He Death Defies”.

All in a car from Mirfield.