The one and only functional 007 Lotus Esprit submarine car, used in the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me at RM Auction

The eagerly awaited central London sale will be  held on the 8–9 September. The 007 Lotus Esprit is a fully working submarine car. It actually was designed and fitted to propel underwater. This is the actual car seen, in the Spy Who Loved Me, driving underwater;  one of the most famous movie cars of all time.

Subsequent to filming the underwater scenes in the Bahamas, the vehicle was shipped to Long Island, NY, where it was kept in an unassuming storage unit on a ten year rental, paid in advance. Fate later intervened when, in 1989, the then rent delinquent unit was put up ‘blind’ for public auction. A modest winning bid from an area couple brought surprise and wonder when the blankets were removed to reveal the iconic 007 ‘Submarine’ Car. After positive authentication, the Lotus was shown occasionally – including a stint at the Petersen Automotive Museum – but mostly kept closely under wraps, until now.

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