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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsJames Bond’s white Lotus Esprit in The Spy Who Loved Me was a real road car—but the car that travelled underwater was a separate, purpose-built submersible. The film made the transformation look like one vehicle changing modes by combining production Esprits, purpose-specific body shells and a working underwater craft known as Wet Nellie.
Which Lotus Esprit did James Bond drive?
Bond’s featured road car was a white Lotus Esprit Series 1, or S1. Lotus traces the Esprit’s angular wedge design to Giorgetto Giugiaro and Ital Design, whose concept appeared at the Turin Motor Show in November 1972. The production Esprit made its public debut at the 1975 Paris Motor Show. Lotus’s heritage account identifies the S1 as Type 79, produced in 1976–1977.
Lotus lists the S1 with a 1,973cc, 16-valve, four-cylinder Lotus 907 engine rated at 160bhp and a five-speed transmission. The manufacturer describes the 907 as an all-aluminium 2.0-litre engine. Lotus’s current heritage page gives the Series 1 production volume as 864 cars; that is the manufacturer’s stated figure, and should not be silently mixed with other totals that may use different counting ranges or definitions.
Was Bond’s Lotus really a submarine?
A working underwater vehicle was real, but it was not a normal road-going Esprit that could seal itself and drive underwater. Perry Oceanographics of Riviera Beach, Florida, built the craft called Wet Nellie as a sealed Esprit-shaped submersible. RM Sotheby’s 2013 auction listing describes it as a “wet” submarine: water filled the interior as it moved below the surface. The auction listing records four propellers driven by electric motors, batteries housed in a watertight compartment, articulated fins adjusted by mechanical levers, and ballast tanks for diving and climbing.
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- Iconic James Bond Model: This 1:36 scale diecast model of the Lotus Esprit Submarine from 'The Spy Who Loved Me' captures the vehicle's unique transformation from car to submarine. With intricate detailing and a striking design, this model is a must-have for James Bond fans, celebrating one of the most memorable vehicles from the film series. It comes packaged in a display box, perfect for any collection.
- Authentic Design and Engineering: This collectible diecast model car replicates the Lotus Esprit Submarine, highlighting its unique design and engineering excellence
- Perfect for Collectors: A great addition to a car collection for adults, this painted classic car model toy is an ideal addition to any collectors set. These scale model cars showcase a variety of iconic real and fictional vehicles, providing something for everyone
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Rather than a standard car cabin, the submersible had a platform seat and operating equipment. Don Griffin, a retired U.S. Navy SEAL who worked for Perry as a technician and test pilot, piloted it during the Bahamas underwater filming. He wore scuba equipment with auxiliary oxygen. The on-screen change from sports car to submarine was an editing and effects sequence assembled from different vehicles and props.
How many Esprits and props were used in the film?
RM Sotheby’s account says Lotus supplied the production with two complete cars and seven additional body shells. That does not mean exactly seven Esprits performed every screen role: the complete cars and shells were adapted for different filming and effects needs. The auction listing describes road cars used on rough filming locations and shells used for specific sequences, including the retracted-tyre transformation, deploying fins and periscope, the missile sequence, and the pier launch, alongside the functional submersible.
Rank #2
- Brand new box
- Real rubber tires.
- Detailed interior, exterior.
- Die-cast metal body and chassis,
- Dimensions approximately L-2.75 inches long.
Those different jobs help explain why photographs of a film Esprit do not, by themselves, establish that an object is the underwater craft or a complete road car. A shell could represent a particular transformation or action shot without having an engine, running gear or working submarine systems.
What happened to Wet Nellie and the other props?
The functional submersible
After filming, Wet Nellie was displayed by U.S. Lotus distributors and later stored in Long Island, New York. RM Sotheby’s says it was found in a storage unit sold at public auction in 1989, then authenticated, cosmetically restored and displayed. At RM Sotheby’s London auction in 2013, the functional submarine sold for £616,000. That sale record establishes the 2013 transaction, not the craft’s current owner or location.
Rank #3
- Brand new box
- Real rubber tires.
- Detailed interior, exterior.
- Die-cast metal body and chassis,
- Dimensions approximately L-2.75 inches long.
A separate display shell sold in 2026
A different Lotus Esprit S1 film-prop display sold for €852,000 at RM Sotheby’s Monaco auction in 2026. The auction page describes dive planes, stabilising fins, a periscope and four impellers; it says Makela Auto Tuning restored the display in 2025. This shell had no engine, running gear or interior and was presented on a stand. It is not the functional Wet Nellie sold in 2013. RM Sotheby’s 2026 lot page documents this separate object and sale.
The 2013 auction listing also gives historical, not necessarily current, information about other shells: one shell’s whereabouts were unknown, another was believed to have been left in poor condition in a Florida museum, and the Ian Fleming Foundation owned a missile shell that was displayed at Beaulieu at the time of that account. Those dated statements should not be treated as confirmation of present locations.
Rank #4
- Iconic Movie Car: This Hot Wheels 1:64 scale die-cast replica captures the legendary Lotus Esprit S1 in white, famously featured in James Bond films, bringing cinematic excitement to your collection
- Adult Collector Edition: Released in 2015 as part of the Workshop series (219/250), this model is specifically designed for adult collectors who appreciate detailed automotive replicas and movie memorabilia
- Authentic Detailing: Features precise 1:64 scale proportions with authentic white paint finish, capturing the distinctive styling and character of the original Lotus Esprit S1 sports car
- Movie Cars Series: Part of the Hot Wheels Movie Cars collection celebrating iconic vehicles from cinema history, making it a perfect addition for James Bond enthusiasts and film car collectors
- Display-Ready Model: This non-riding toy vehicle comes ready to showcase in your collection, with quality die-cast construction and attention to detail that makes it ideal for display cases or collector shelving
Is the film car the same Lotus Esprit Elon Musk bought?
The auction records discussed here do not establish that Wet Nellie is currently owned by Elon Musk, nor do they verify its present location. They do establish that the functional submersible sold at auction in 2013, while a separate, non-running display shell sold in 2026. Do not treat the two objects—or a road-going Esprit used in filming—as interchangeable simply because they share the same shape and Bond-film association.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to check when identifying a Bond Esprit prop
For a claimed film artifact, distinguish the functional submersible from a non-running shell and from a road car. A credible comparison should consider provenance and authentication, what equipment is present, the restoration work, and the dated sale record. Visual features such as fins or a periscope alone do not prove that a shell is an original film-used prop.
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Best Value
- Brand new box. Detailed exterior. Real rubber tires. Collectible tin display. Authentic film replica. Comes in a blister pack. Officially licensed product. Die-cast metal body and chassis. Dimensions approximately L-3 inches long.
For a consumer collectible rather than a screen-used artifact, an August 2025 auction catalogue lists a Corgi James Bond Lotus Esprit S1 Submarine model. That catalogue listing does not establish current retail availability, a particular scale or item number, or any connection between a model and the production vehicles. The catalogue entry is a reference for the listed collectible, not evidence of current stock.
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