Toys, Games and Puzzles

GILBERT ROAD RACE SET

In 1965, Gilbert came out with the 'James Bond 007 Road Race Set', inspired by the chase scene in the Furka Pass, Switzerland, between the Aston Martin DB5 and the Ford Mustang, from Goldfinger. It was one of the most expensive and elaborate 007 toys to be made at that time. Sold in the United States through Sears department stores, and retailing for $35 (in 1965), the set came in sections which featured both the track and the surrounding scenery. Two hand-held throttles controlled the DB5 and Mustang cars. The toy was a huge hit in the United States, but it soon earned a well-deserved reputation for being unreliable, and the returns rate bankrupted the manufacturer. The box came in two versions - the earlier featured the face of Sean Connery, the later boxes had a more-generic picture. My box features the Connery face, and is in decent shape for a 55+ year old paper box. I also have the original instruction sheets. I have refurbished mine with working pieces from various incomplete sets, and my set both works and is complete, albeit very delicate.

Above are two original 1965 ads for the Road Race set. At left, an ad from a Sears, Roebuck toys flyer - note the three punch holes for a binder. At right, a two-page flyer for Sears, Roebuck stores to use.

CARRERA EVOLUTION GOLDFINGER 1:32 RACE SET

As part of its Evolution line of race cars, slot car maker Carrera produced this officially-licensed race car set (indeed, it was officially licensed by Danjaq, LLC and United Artists Corporation, as well as by Ford Motor Company) based on the Aston Martin DB5 and the Ford Mustang from Goldfinger. The cars were 1:32 scale, while the track that came with the set was a 1:24 scale. The included track was enough to form a small figure-8, and with no decorative scenery save for some guard rails in the severest turns, it was not intended to be a finished set in the way the Gilbert set was complete.

A toy cap gun 'disguised' as a movie camera, with carrying case.

'Message From M', created in 1966 by Marvin Glass and produced by Ideal Toy Company, is a physically beautiful game. The large box has appealing graphics (including classic imagery of Connery) containing the intricately-molded figures of the villians, colorful locations drawn from the first four films, and iconic game tokens. This is a 007 collector's dream. The game play can be a bit slow, but the 'M Message machine' adds a delightful element; if only the 'SMERSH' guard didn't pop up so often.

My copy of the game is original, complete and in very good condition. The box top shows little fading. There is some wear, but no tears, at the corners. A beautiful piece considering it is 50+ years old.

A generic James Bond pinball game was released by Gottlieb in 1980. The game was unusual in that you played against a timer rather than playing a certain number of balls. The game was not very successful, receiving below-average playing scores. Above is an original promotional folder produced to place the machines in arcades and stores.

At left, the Milton Bradley James Bond 007 Goldfinger Game, showing the original box and original game board. In the two pictures to the right, the Milton Bradley James Bond 007 Thunderball Game, showing the original box and its contents, and the original playing board. Both games are complete and in very good condition. The game pieces for the Thunderball game are still in their original plastic wrapping.

PS2 Video Games

I never really played video games, so I have not made an effort to compile a complete collection. But my children enjoyed these pictured below.

I am not a member of the videogame generation, but I did play old computer games. The Ultimate James Bond Interactive Dossier was released in 1996 and ran on Windows 3.1 and Windows 95 platforms, and it was one of my favorites. It had an entertaining and well-designed trivia game that was a good challenge, and I used to spend hours playing it. I recently configured my computer to also run Windows 3.1, and the old game still plays beautifully on it! I had missed playing this game and now I get to enjoy it again after an absence of about 20 years.

Two James Bond puzzles from Milton Bradley, Goldfinger in the two left photos and Thunderball in the two right photos. The Goldfinger puzzle features a picture of a golden girl on one side, and because the puzzle is two-sided, a picture of the box cover on the other side. The Thunderball puzzle, also two-sided, features a Robert McGinnis drawing and the box cover art. These are challenging puzzles to put together (especially the box top art), but both puzzles are complete. Both puzzles are original, and the boxes and puzzles are in very good condition.

A surprisingly difficult puzzle.

This is the basic edition of this trivia game. There is also a Special Collector's Edition, which I do not own.

From Gilbert, a complete and original version of the James Bond 007 Spy Tricks toy. The box and contents are in very good condition.

From the French toy company Triang, this is the very rare '007 Underwater Battle' game. Highly collectible, the box cover art is nearly identical to that in one panel of the Thunderball movie poster. My copy of the game is nearly complete - it has all of the figures and their accessories and is missing only a couple of the clear stick poles on which the figures can mount, plus 2 of the bases for the clear stick poles. The box is in poor condition - several tears to the top and water staining on the bottom. Despite the condition, it is a long-sought addition to my collection.

From Milton Bradley, the James Bond Secret Agent Game. Mine is original, complete, and in very good condition.

From Spears, The James Bond 007 Secret Service Game, original and complete. The box shows a lot of corner wear, otherwise in good condition.

From Milton Bradley, the James Bond Card Game. Mine is original, complete, and in very good condition.

This is another game made by Milton Bradley, "The James Bond 007 Game". Printed on the lid are "enter the dangerous world of James Bond" and "play if you dare!". My game is original and complete, but there is some water damage to the lid of the box.

The 007 version of the classic mystery game Cluedo.

From Upper Deck and released in 2019, the 007 version of its Legendary card game. There is a game and a card deck for each movie.

SPECTRE: The Board Game is a competitive game for 2 for 4 players who take the roles of iconic 007 villains. Each player is a member of the insidious organization Spectre, competing with each other to become Spectre’s Number One. No matter how hard they try, 007 is always there, waiting to foil their plans and reveal their secret.
SPECTRE: The Board Game features iconic weapons, locations and characters form the James Bond films.
Assemble devices. Spy on your opponents. Blackmail your rivals. Build your own criminal empire. Strategically deploy your agents around the globe to infiltrate key installations. Players will need to work behind the scenes to develop their nefarious plots and become 007's biggest threat.

Various James Bond trivia games, all original and complete.

This is a trivia game/contest that I have never heard anything about. Labelled a game, it was actually a contest sponsored by MGM/UA to win prizes. Seemingly complete, this is a very unusual item.

Two versions of the Goldfinger jigsaw puzzles from Milton Bradley. Mine are original, complete and in good condition.

Two versions of the Thunderball jigsaw puzzles from Milton Bradley. Mine are original, complete, and in good condition.

Two versions of the A View To A Kill jigsaw puzzles from Hestair Puzzles. Mine are original, complete, and in good condition.

TOP PHOTO: Two puzzles from HG Toys, "Bond In Action" on the left, and "Bond vs. Jaws" on the right. Boxes are in fair condition.
BOTTOM PHOTO: On the left, the third puzzle from HG Toys ("Jaws"), and on the right a puzzle from StarPics. Both boxes are in good condition.
All 4 puzzles are original and complete.

Arrow made a set of 4 puzzles, shown above. Number 1 is the Thunderball jetpack scene, and Number 2 is the Thunderball scuba scene. Number 3 is the Goldfinger puzzle, and Number 4 is the From Russia With Love puzzle. Mine are original, complete (except for Number 2, which is missing 3 pieces), and the puzzles are in good condition and the boxes are in fair condition.

At right, one of the recent officially-licensed puzzles featuring domestic and international posters for all 25 Bond films to date, including No Time To Die.

I own these three of the several versions of James Bond-themed Monopoly games that exist.

Two versions of James Bond-branded tarot cards from Fergus Hall. On the left is the tarot card deck alone, and the design on the back of the cards is unrelated to the movie. On the right is a tarot card game set, and the design on the back of the cards is the same 007 logo used in Live and Let Die, but is blue rather than the red which appeared in the film.

MicroMachines box set

Johnny Lightning cars

Holster, gun and silencer