Lotus Esprit S1
The Lotus Esprit is one of the defining shapes of the 1970s. Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro of Italdesign, the Esprit was a sharp-edged wedge that looked like it had been folded from a single sheet of paper. It was a radical departure from the curvaceous Europas and Elans that preceded it, and it became Lotus's flagship for over 25 years.
Colin Chapman, Lotus's legendary founder, wanted a mid-engined supercar that could compete with Ferrari and Lamborghini on style while staying true to Lotus's 'simplify, then add lightness' philosophy. The Esprit achieved this by using a fiberglass body over a steel backbone chassis, keeping weight to just 907 kg (2,000 lbs) — roughly half the weight of a contemporary Ferrari 308.
The engine was less exotic: Lotus's own 907 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing 160 hp. It wasn't powerful by supercar standards, but in a car weighing a ton, it was enough for genuine performance. The handling — tuned by Chapman himself — was extraordinary, with the kind of mid-engine balance and agility that made the car feel faster than its numbers suggested.
The Esprit became a global icon when it appeared in the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me (1977). The white Esprit S1 'Wet Nellie' that transformed into a submarine is one of the most famous movie cars ever. The original prop car sold at auction for nearly $1 million.
The Esprit was produced from 1976 to 2004 across multiple series, eventually gaining turbocharging, a V8 engine, and more rounded styling. But the original S1 — Giugiaro's pure geometric vision — remains the definitive version.
The Esprit S1 is a specialist car requiring knowledge. The fiberglass body doesn't rust but can crack, delaminate, and suffer from poor previous repairs. The steel backbone chassis CAN rust — inspect thoroughly. The 907 engine is reliable but requires regular cam belt changes (failure is catastrophic). Check for overheating issues. The gearbox (from Citroën SM) is adequate but not great. Interior quality is poor by modern standards. Bond connection adds significant value — white cars command a premium.
S1 production: approximately 1,049 units (1976-1978). The S1 was followed by S2, S2.2, S3, Turbo, SE, GT3, V8, and Sport 350 variants through 2004. Bond's 'Wet Nellie' submarine car was one of several props — a complete car and a non-drivable submarine shell. The 907 engine was shared with the Jensen-Healey.