The quickest way from the dock to the Manticore in GoldenEye is a Riva Aquarama Special. The Riva Aquarama Special is a mahogany speedboat from Riva’s best-known line, and it carries Xenia Onatopp and Admiral Farrel across Monaco’s harbour. Riva ended Aquarama production in 1996.
In the film
Xenia and Admiral Farrel take the speedboat from the dock at the Yacht Club de Monaco to the Manticore.
The details of the Aquarama Special
The first Aquarama. The original Aquarama was test driven by Gianni Agnelli in Monte Carlo in August 1962. The production boat was shown at the Milan International Boat Show that November.
The Special. The Special arrived in 1971, after architect Giorgio Barilani modified the transom to add a passage that made it easier to climb back up from the water. It is 8.75 metres long, with two engines of 350hp each and six hours of autonomy.
Mahogany and chrome. The hull is varnished mahogany, with chrome fittings. Riva called the Aquarama its most popular and famous powerboat.
Production. Riva built 765 Aquaramas in total before it ended production in 1996.
Owning it now
This is a boat for a collector with a boathouse and a restorer. Buy on condition and documentation, with a survey, and expect running costs that reflect the wood. Listings are found on specialist boat sites; one broker’s list showed a 1974 28ft Aquarama Special at US$725,000. Our button goes to a plain eBay search, and boat brokers and specialist boat sites are the other places to look.
Riva still builds boats, and the current Aquariva Special is a restyling of its earlier Aquariva, not the Aquarama.
Specifications
| Model | Riva Aquarama Special |
|---|---|
| Introduced | 1971 |
| Length | 8.75 metres |
| Engines | Two, 350hp each |
| Hull | Varnished mahogany |
| Production | Aquarama taken out of production in 1996; 765 built across variants |
| Availability | Used only |
Riva’s own history is on its Aquarama heritage page.
Questions
What boat is used in GoldenEye in Monaco?
A Riva Aquarama Special, taking Xenia Onatopp and Admiral Farrel to the Manticore.
Is the Riva Aquarama still made?
No. Riva stopped building the Aquarama in 1996.
How many Aquaramas were built?
765 in total, according to Riva.
See more vehicles from the films on our films page, or go to the GoldenEye page.
