THE SPY WHO LOVED ME, 1977

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THE SPY WHO LOVED ME, 1977

1977 LOTUS ESPRIT S1 SUBMARINE SHELL

A FULL-SIZE EXHIBITION DISPLAY PROP
REGISTRATION NO. PPW 306R
WHITE ON DISPLAY FRAME

LOWER, WIDER EVEN THAT ITS LOTUS PREDECESSORS, THE WEDGE-SHAPED ESPRIT S1 OF 1976 WAS SENSATIONALLY STYLED BY GUILIO GIUGIARO. ITS 160 BHP ENGINE PROPELLED IT TO CLOSE TO 130 MPH. A RIGID BACKBONE SUSPENSION CHASSIS AND WELL DESIGNED ALL INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION PROVIDED SUPERLATIVE ROADHOLDING AND STEERING -- THE MOST SIGNIFICANT FEATURE OF THE LOTUS ESPRIT S1 FEATURED IN THE 1977 UNITED ARTISTS/EON FILM THE SPY WHO LOVED ME WAS THAT IT "CONVERTED INTO A SUBMARINE".

IN THE FILM, Q'S MODIFICATIONS MEANT THAT THE LOTUS HAD THE OPTIONAL EXTRAS OF FOUR WATER PROPELLERS, RETRACTING ROAD WHEELS, HYDROVANES, AND IMPRESSIVE OFFENSIVE ARMAMENT, A PERISCOPE AND ALL THAT WAS NECESSARY FOR SURVIVAL BENEATH THE SEA'S SURFACE. THE CONVINCING UNDERWATER SEQUENCES IN THE FILM WERE LARGELY FILMED IN TIGHTLY CONTROLLED CONDITIONS IN A HUGE STUDIO WATER TANK.

LOTUS HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THIS CAR OR SHELL WAS ONE OF TWO COMPLETE CARS AND TWO 'KITS' PLUS EXTRA BODYSHELLS, USED IN THE FILM. THE PRESENT OWNER PURCHASED THIS LOTUS SHELL IN 1988 AND DECIDED TO PREPARE IT AS IT HAD BEEN USED IN THE FILM, IN THE UNDERWATER SEQUENCE. LOTUS SUPPLIED PHOTOGRAPHS AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION ON HOW THE CAR WAS PREPARED FOR FILMING, AND THE VENDOR DULY RETURNED IT TO THE SPECIFICATION IN WHICH IT APPEARED IN THE FILM.

WHILE THIS REMARKABLE CAR 'PROP' DOES NOT HAVE AN ENGINE OR RUNNING GEAR IT REMAINS A RARE AND EYE-CATCHING EXHIBIT; IT IS ACCOMPANIED BY CORRESPONDING STILLS AND COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHS OF CAROLINE MUNRO [NAOMI]

拍品專文

IN THE SPY WHO LOVED ME, JAMES BOND'S [ROGER MOORE] MODIFIED LOTUS PROVIDES MUCH OF THE FILM'S EXCITEMENT. IT IS USED BY THE FILM-MAKERS AS AN UPDATED VERSION OF THE ASTON MARTIN WITH THE ADDITIONAL IMPRESSIVE FEATURE THAT THIS CAR TURNS INTO A SUBMARINE. AS A ROAD CAR IT IS INVOLVED IN AN ENTERTAINING CHASE AROUND SARDINIA PURSUED BY A MISSILE-LAUNCHING MOTORBIKE, JAWS [RICHARD KIEL] AND A CAR FULL OF STROMBERG'S HENCHMEN, AND FINALLY BY STROMBERG'S MISTRESS NAOMI IN A HELICOPTER. IN AN EFFORT TO EVADE NAOMI, BOND ACCOMPANIED BY RUSSIAN AGENT ANYA AMASOVA [BARBARA BACH] DRIVES THE CAR OFF A JETTY INTO THE SEA WHERE IT TRANSFORMS INTO A SUBMARINE. BOND USES ONE OF THE REMARKABLE LOTUS' MANY FEATURES - A MISSILE-LAUNCHER - TO DISPOSE OF NAOMI AND PROCEEDS TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT STROMBERG'S UNDERWATER BASE. HAVING UTILIZED THE SUBMARINE LOTUS' ARSENAL OF WEAPONS INCLUDING INK JETS, TORPEDOES AND MINES TO FIGHT OFF STROMBERG'S HOSTILE DIVERS, BOND DRIVES THE CAR UP A BEACH TO THE AMAZEMENT OF THE MANY HOLIDAY MAKERS.