lotus esprit style

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  James Bond: The Spy Who Loved Me

  £1,295.00

  “It’s the BIGGEST. It’s the BEST. It’s BOND. And B-E-Y-O-N-D.“

  Bond’s celebrated Lotus Esprit takes centre stage on this ultra-rare original US Subway poster for “The Spy Who Loved Me”. Shown beneath the waves in its submarine guise, the white sports car glides above armed divers in a dramatic underwater scene. Yellow-bordered photographs featuring Roger Moore, Barbara Bach and Richard Kiel’s Jaws complement the expansive blue imagery, creating a distinctive photographic alternative to the film’s illustrated campaign.

  The Lotus provides one of the film’s defining moments when Bond drives it off a jetty into the sea during a spectacular pursuit. Beneath the surface, its wheels retract and fins deploy, transforming the sleek sports car into a fully equipped submersible. Affectionately known as “Wet Nellie”, the vehicle combines underwater weaponry with a surface-to-air missile, allowing Bond to turn the tables on the pursuing helicopter. Directed by Lewis Gilbert, the film pairs Moore’s 007 with Barbara Bach’s Soviet agent XXX, Anya Amasova against Curt Jurgens as Karl Stromberg, the villain looking to turn the world into his own personal underwater paradise.

  Measuring 45 x 60 inches, this impressive large-format poster retains its New York-area theatre listings and prominent “Starts Wednesday July 27th” announcement, firmly connecting it to its original cinema engagement. Presented in original folded condition, its generous proportions offer real presence while remaining a practical size for display—a striking statement piece for James Bond enthusiasts and admirers of the iconic Lotus Esprit.

  Trivia: By the time this movie was made, the James Bond films were the most lucrative in the world, and many manufacturers wanted their products featured. There was great competition for the company that would supply Bond’s car. Don McLaughlin, Public Relations Manager of Lotus, realized that the best way to win this coveted position was to make the producers chase after him, rather than going begging to them. One day he turned up at Pinewood driving a brand new unreleased Lotus Esprit, with all identifying names covered up. He parked it outside the Bond set, knowing that the producers would see it when they broke for lunch. Once the car had attracted a crowd, all clamoring to know what the car was, McLaughlin nonchalantly got in the car and drove away without answering any questions. As he had expected, the producers were desperate to discover what the car was, and producer Albert R. Broccoli later chose it for this movie.

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