James Bond The Spy Who Loved Me automotive trivia

What car did James Bond Drive underwater in the movie The Spy Who Loved Me?

Answer: 007's white 1976 Lotus Esprit turned into a submarine in the movie The Spy Who Loved Me.

Colour photograph of the James Bond Lotus Esprit transformed into a submarine on exhibit. In the background are posters with shots from the movie.
The 1976 Lotus Esprit turned into a submarine.

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In the movie The Spy Who Loved Me (1986) James Bond, 007, played by Roger Moore drives a white 1976 Lotus Esprit that was modified by 'Q Branch' to turn into a submarine.

The Esprit was in its first year of production, so the British company Lotus could only spare one car for the production of the movie. When it became clear they would need more cars, Lotus chairman Colin Chapman stepped in and lent out his own car.

The submarine version of the car was only a shell that was completely motorised and transformed into an underwater sub by Perry Submarines in Miami. The sub was driven on screen by men in frog suits.

The (real) Lotus Esprit was one of Giorgetto Giugiaro’s first polygonal designs. It was powered by a Lotus Type 907 engine - 16-valve, twin-overhead-camshaft that in Europe produced 160bhp with a 0-60mph time of 8.4 seconds and a top speed of 138mph. The engine was mid-mounted at 45 degrees to maintain a low centre of gravity and was supported by a steel chassis and covered in a fibreglass body.

The webpage 007.com lists the Q Branch Modifications to the fictional James Bond Esprit as:

  • Front-firing torpedoes – launch from front vent in bonnet
  • Sea to air missile launcher – radar-guided, surface-to-air missiles are concealed in a hatch above the rear windscreen
  • Cement sprayers – two telescopic jets mounted behind rear number plate, for use in drive mode
  • Rear-mounted ink jets – two small jets concealed behind the rear number plate, for use in sub mode
  • Mine launcher – releases limpet mines from a magazine underneath the hull
  • Bulletproof assembly
  • Periscope – telescopic periscope used via the roof, gives a 360-degree field of vision
  • Amphibious conversion unit – includes four fins and four rear screws as propulsion system

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Related to the movie The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) directed by Lewis Gilbert (more details)

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