Lotus Esprit submarino de James Bond será leiloado

A RM Auctions anunciou que o carro-submarino Lotus Esprit usado por James Bond no filme "O Espião Que Me Amava" estará em Londres, nos dias oito e nove de setembro, onde esperará os lances de interessados em sua aquisição.

O carro ficou famoso após a cena do filme onde o agente secreto 007 salta de um pier para dentro da água, aciona o mecanismo de transformação, e num instante, o carro se transforma em um submarino de combate.

Os produtores do filme construíram um submarino a partir de um Lotus Esprit original. Perry Oceangraphic, da Flórida, converteu uma das seis carrocerias do carro, e Don Griffin, ex-soldado da Marinha Americana, foi o responsável pelos controles do veículo.

A RM Auctions estima que a conversão do Esprit para um submarino tenha custado mais de 100 mil dólares na época, cifra que, convertida para os valores de hoje, pode ultrapassar os 400 mil.

Depois das filmagens, o carro foi levado a Long Island, onde ficou guardado até 1989, quando o contrato de armazenamento encerrou. Já que ninguém reclamou o veículo, ele foi vendido em um leilão por duas pessoas que não faziam ideia do que estavam arrematando.

O carro foi exibido em exposições até hoje. Seu valor permaneceu meramente especulativo, até agora. O carro mais valioso de James Bond é o Aston Martin DB5 usado contra Goldfinger e na missão Thunderball, sendo adquirido em 2010 por 4,6 milhões de dólares. A RM Auctions espera que este valor seja superado pelo "Wet Nellie", assim apelidado o Lotus Esprit submarino de James Bond.

BOND CAR SURFACES! ICONIC 007 LOTUS ESPRIT 'SUBMARINE' CAR TO GO UNDER THE HAMMER AT RM'S FORTHCOMING LONDON SALE

- RM Auctions lifts the gavel on the one and only functional submarine car, used in the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me, at its eagerly awaited central London sale, 8–9 September
- Fully functioning submarine car was designed and fitted to propel underwater
- The actual car seen, on screen, driving underwater; one of the most famous movie cars of all time
- Never before offered for sale
- Amazing story of 'lost and found'

LONDON (at a top secret location) 28 June, 2013 – "Pay attention, 007, RM Auctions is about to sell one of my most ingenious creations and we wouldn't want it to fall into enemy hands". Well, 'Q' might be a little concerned that his incredible Lotus Esprit Series 1 'Submarine' Car is due to be sold at auction, but for millions of movie fans out there, the appearance of this iconic Bond car on the open market represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

No Bond car has ever done anything as outrageous as transform itself into a submarine. Used to incredible effect in the film The Spy Who Loved Me, starring Roger Moore, the white Lotus commonly tops the polls when generations of movie fans are asked to vote on their favourite film cars of all time. Like all the best Bond cars, the Lotus was a veritable war chest of weaponry and gadgetry, all designed to fox and foil the enemy, whilst also helping Bond to another hard-won victory for Queen and country.

The vehicle to be offered by RM Auctions at its forthcoming London sale, 8-9 September, in Battersea Park, is the one and only fully functioning car especially designed and built for the famous underwater sequence seen on screen in the 1977 film. Abundantly authenticated, and known as 'Wet Nellie' on the set, it was developed from one of six Esprit body shells used in the making of the film. As the only car to be built into a fully operational, self-propelled 'submarine', by Perry Oceanographic, based in Riviera Beach, Florida, it is the vehicle which claimed the most screen time in the film. The driver of the car was Don Griffin, a retired U.S. Navy SEAL and test pilot for Perry, who operated the vehicle utilizing its motorized propellers while manoeuvring with levered steering mechanisms. At the time, the car was said to have cost over $100,000 to create (equivalent to nearly a half million dollars today).

Subsequent to filming the underwater scenes in the Bahamas, the vehicle was shipped to Long Island, NY, where it was kept in an unassuming storage unit on a ten year rental, paid in advance. Fate later intervened when, in 1989, the then rent delinquent unit was put up 'blind' for public auction. A modest winning bid from an area couple brought surprise and wonder when the blankets were removed to reveal the iconic 007 'Submarine' Car. After positive authentication, the Lotus was shown occasionally – including a stint at the Petersen Automotive Museum – but mostly kept closely under wraps, until now.

Max Girardo, Managing Director, RM Auctions, Europe, says: "We have a great track record in selling incredible and iconic movie cars, and this particular Lotus is certainly up there amongst the most famous cars of all time. Over the years, millions of moviegoers have stared in awe as the Lotus transformed itself into a submarine, and now, perhaps one of them will have an opportunity to own it. Her Majesty's Secret Service aside, it surely is the ultimate beach accessory"!

RM Auctions sold "the most famous car in the world", the Aston Martin DB5 used by Sean Connery in the enormously popular Goldfinger and Thunderball movies, for an incredible £2.9 million during its 2010 London sale.

For further information on RM Auctions' forthcoming London sale, or to view a frequently updated list of entries, visit rmauctions.com or contact RM's London office at +44 (0) 20 7851 7070.

About RM Auctions

RM Auctions is the world's largest auction house for investment-quality automobiles. With over three decades of experience in the collector car industry, RM's vertically integrated range of services, from restoration to private treaty sales, auctions, estate planning, and financial services, coupled with an expert team of car specialists and an international footprint, provide an unsurpassed level of service to the global collector car market. RM proudly holds five of the top ten all-time records for the most expensive motor cars sold at auction. RM's restoration division has achieved unprecedented accolades, earning Best of Show honours at the world's top concours events. For further information, please visit rmauctions.com, find us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter @rmauctions.

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