The history of the film
The Spy who loved me is the 10th e james Bond's opus, played by Roger Moore. Released in 1977, it features 007 and the charming Soviet spy Anya, who are in charge of thwarting the plans of the evil Stromberg. The latter is behind the theft of Russian and American nuclear submarines.
The Lotus Esprit S1, an amphibious vehicle
The Lotus Esprit S1 (or Series 1) is a sports car built by Lotus in the United Kingdom between 1976 and 1978. It was launched in October 1975 at the Paris Motor Show and its production began in June 1976, replacing Europe in the Lotus range. Only 200 units were built.
The fiberglass body is mounted on a steel chassis, the Esprit is powered by a Lotus 907 4-cylinder, 16-valve, 160-horsepower engine, as we had already seen in the Jensen Healey.
She became famous thanks to her appearance in the James Bond L'Espion who loved me in 1977, during a great scene of chase racing along the coasts of Sardinia. But it was above all the fact that it was submersible that made it a legend. Indeed, its main characteristic is to transform itself into a submarine.
It took the special effects team, led by Derek Meddings, in collaboration with Lotus engineers, six weeks to transform the car. The Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro designed this amphibious car.
In total, two cars were supplied by Lotus, in addition to the 6 additional bodies, each used for a special effect. For underwater use, only one sealed shell was used. Perry Oceanographics installed four electric motors with steering fins in front of the propellers. The two vertical fins on either side of the rear of the car were blocked and were only there to stabilize the assembly.
But in reality, the Lotus Esprit S1 was not a real submarine because to avoid waterproofing and pressurization problems, the car was filled with water and driven by two frogmen.
The gadgets on board the Lotus Esprit S1
Like all James Bond cars, the Lotus Esprit S1 was equipped with the usual Q refinements. Although its main feature was to turn into a submarine.
- Periscope It allows James Bond to see what is happening above the water.
- Cement sprayer Hidden behind the license plate at the back of the car were four nozzles, two of which sprayed the cement to blind the pursuers. To create the illusion, grey oatmeal was used.
- Surface-to-air missile Underwater: Underwater, the underwater car was able to send surface-to-air missiles to destroy an enemy aircraft flying on the surface. It is not known if it was also possible to use them on land.
- Black paint Like cement throwing, the Lotus Esprit S1 was able to project black dye sheets to blind the pursuers.
- Mines Useful only in underwater mode, mines could be thrown from under the car.
- Torpedoes The car was able to send small, highly explosive torpedoes from the folding panel, located between the car's headlights.
Anecdotes related to the Lotus Esprit S1
Although not mentioned in the final version of the film, the car is nicknamed "Wet Nellie".
The driver initially designated for the Spirit chase scene was unable to achieve the level of excitement required by the production. Quickly frustrated by the lack of progress, they decided to return the car. But, in the stuntman's absence, Lotus engineer Roger Becker, who had accompanied all the cars and was familiar with the handling characteristics, climbed behind the wheel. His brief performance in front of the cameras was so impressive that producer Cubby Broccoli, would have asked him to immediately repeat the feat and make sure the cameras were running at that moment. Becker was then hired to do almost all of the stunt for the pursuit sequence.
Finally, in 1981, James Bond drove a Lotus Esprit Turbo in the film Rien que pour vos yeux.
Now part of the Ian Flemming Foundation, she can be seen in the Bond in Motion exhibition at the London Film Museum
