Jay Sadowski
As I drove home from the 3rd (or was it 4th?) viewing of SkyFall, I shifted my Jaguar into gear, pretending it was an Aston Martin DB5, and thought about the scene where Bond flips the lid on the gear shift exposing the ejector seat button.
It didn’t seem to me like it would be much of a project to make one for my car.
The more I thought of it, I realized how silly and utterly useless and impractical it would be.
I made up my mind. I had to have it!
I went home and bought a second gear shift knob from eBay to begin my project. I then scoured Home Depot looking for the right parts to use. I was surprised I didn’t find what I was looking for there.
I then went home to Google images to try and copy it as closely as possible. One of the pictures I came across was the weapon control panel from Bonds Aston Martin DB5.
(I know this was not the weapon panel from Goldfinger, but one from another DB5 but I thought this one looked much cooler).
I looked at it and realized something like that would fit perfect in my own armrest. It would serve no real function other than looking cool, but that was more than enough for me!
Since I had to wait for my eBay purchase to arrive, I set forth on my new project. I realized to really make this look great I would have to seek a higher power.
My close and dear friend Pres builds high tech speakers for the military and I knew he would have some very good insight into how to make this a reality.
And like a true friend, he didn’t bat an eye at my crazy request; he just said:
Oh yeah, we can totally make this.
His work shop is similar to Q Branch with gears, gadgets, and abundant material on hand.
He knew immediately how he wanted to go about this and what he would need.
The first step was to measure my armrest and cut the piece of black plastic to size. After collecting all the pieces from around his shop all that was needed was to drill the holes, put in the switches and label them.
Pres did more research and found the close font match (Florida) and set to putting it all together.
When he showed it to me, I couldn’t believe it. It came out even better than I had hoped!
Installing it in my Jag was simple. The next step will be to actually hook up the switches to some sound effects. Were still deciding on the best way to do this. We are thinking of having a battery operated system under the drivers seat as opposed to hooking it up to the car stereo system.
As for the ejector switch, once the gear knob came in the mail, all that was needed to was to find a red button and to make the flip up lid.
Inspiration struck as my co-worker was making her coffee and I noticed the coffee creamer lid would actually be perfect.
I rinsed it out and set to work!
Everyone who has seen it, Bond fans or not, all love it and think its pretty awesome.
What do you think?
Hahaha, what a cool feature.
This would look totally awesome in my car too, maybe in Davids Porsche aswell?
I think he already does. Remember the rockets in the Halloween video?
This is awesome! I will definitely be putting this on my to do list for my next car.
Nice project. If you can’t have fun with it what’s the point in living
I would do this to my car in a second…screw the after market!
Do you have a parts list? I would love to do this to our family Miata.
I second that. Need a parts list
That is way cool, l love the line, “…The more I thought of it, I realized how silly and utterly useless and impractical it would be.
I made up my mind. I had to have it!”
The very words I live by.
Its nice to see Im not the only one. But im going one step further mine will have working guns (paint ball) rocket lancher, bullet proof screen. revolving plates and yes ejector seat. and Yes Officer these will only be activated on private land.
Hi,
Loved the centre console and want to do that to my xtype jag. can you build one and how much would be interested.
Thanks and Cheers
Fiv
from Melbourne australia
Re the centre console treatement -I am serious about getting one made as pictured please contact me by email: earthlightone@hotmail.com looking forward to hearing from you!
Fiv
Need this in my car