James Bond’s Lotus Espirit James Bond’s Lotus Espirit is expected fetch at least 500,000 British pounds at auction in London. The gadget-laden super-submarine made its debut in the 1977 film , The Spy Who Loved Me, driven of course by James Bond, played by Roger Moore.
Enthusiasts claim it could fetch considerably more than half a million pounds; the record for an ex-Bond car, also sold through RM Auctions was set in 2010 with the sale of the Aston Martin DB5 used Goldfinger, selling for £2.9m.
Six Espirit’s, with their radical wedge shape, were supplied by Lotus to filmmakers of the Ian Fleming novel.
Lotus PR manager Don McLaughlan parked a pre-production model outside the offices of producer Albert (Cubby) Broccoli, after production of a new Bond film was announced.
Two production cars and an additional six bodyshells were supplied for the film.  One of these was converted into a fully-functioning submarine, by marine engineering firm, Perry Oceanographics, in Florida, at a cost of £300,000 (GBP).  The result became known as ‘West Nellie’, and it is this customised model which goes under the hammer in September.