How would James Bond surpass corkscrew jumping an AMC Hornet over a river in The Man with the Golden Gun? Simple. By diving headfirst into the sea aboard a submersible Lotus Esprit. ‘Wet Nellie’ was every bit the onscreen equal to 007 himself, played by Roger Moore, in the 10th film in the official franchise: 1977’s The Spy Who Loved Me.

Lotus supplied two complete vehicles and a further seven bodyshells to the film’s maker EON Productions. One shell was cut in half to record in-car shots of Moore and co-star Barbara Bach (Major Anya Amasova, Agent XXX). A second was damaged when it was fired by a cannon off a pier and is presumed destroyed. Two more would initially remain on location in the Bahamas, gifted by the series’ legendary producer Albert R “Cubby” Broccoli to one of the movie’s suppliers. The whereabouts of the example used to show the side fins and periscope deploying is unknown. Another was retrofitted with gadgets and sold on. A seventh (a functional submarine car) was auctioned by RM Sotheby’s in London in 2013.

Featuring the key ‘Wet Nellie’ hallmarks of dive planes, stabilising fins, a periscope, four impellers, reinforced windows, and torpedo launcher, the Lotus Esprit S1 shell offered here was purchased by a car collector based in Brescia in an auction in September 1998. It was then acquired by a fellow Italian in February 2002, before being bought by the Finnish consigning owner in May 2007. For almost two decades, the Lotus was on crowd-pleasing display at the PowerPark amusement park in Alahärmä. Then, in the summer of 2025, Makela Auto Tuning of Kannus started a restoration, which included a partial repaint. Not featuring an engine, running gear, or interior, it is presented on an easy-to-move stand.

For its role onscreen in the critical and commercial smash hit that was The Spy Who Loved Me, the Lotus Esprit S1 is one of the most famous cars in cinema history. Ahead of the film’s 50th anniversary next year, this sale marks a truly unmissable opportunity for any 007 aficionado.