Lotus eSprit S1 is a British exotic sports car launched in 1975 at Paris Motor Show. The lightweight vehicle was in production between 1976 to 1978 with only 714 units sold. Although it was a rare vehicle, the fame of Lotus eSprit S1 reached its pinnacle when it appeared in James Bond movie, “The Spy Who Loved Me” in 1977. This vehicle is also owned by Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla. Let us see some interesting facts about the iconic Lotus eSprit S1.
Lotus Esprit S1 Facts
Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro
Lotus eSprit S1 was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, who remains one of the masterminds ever. He will always be known for his unique designs which include geometric and folded paper styles. The wedge shape and fiberglass designs of Lotus eSprit S1 were unraveled by Giorgetto Giugiaro himself. When a vehicle is designed by Giugiaro, one can assume that it would be a successful vehicle as such was his skill. The Italian automotive designer known for designing 200 vehicles still remains one of the best car designers in the world.
Lotus eSprit S1 Was Popular Only After Appearing In the James Bond Film
Though the production units for Lotus eSprit S1 were low, the popularity boosted after it appeared in the 1977 film, The Spy Who Loved Me. In the film, James Bond drives the iconic vehicle through seas and underwater which then becomes a submarine called Wet Nellie. Apart from the film, the Lotus eSprit S1 has numerous appearances in car shows and magazines which eventually increased its popularity again. The influence of Lotus Esprit in popular culture is massive, but it all started after the James Bond movie.
Handling Was Amazing
Lotus eSprit S1 was a mid-engine lightweight vehicle which facilitated its handling. Be it the tuning, suspension, or fiberglass components, everything was great and resulted in excellent handling. Apart from speed, the Lotus eSprit S1 will be remembered for its handling. More than performance, the Lotus Esprit S1 was known for its handling.
Pricing of Lotus eSprit S1
The Lotus eSprit S1 was available for $16,000 USD during the launch time in 1976. Although the original price of the vehicle was a little expensive, it was always cheaper than the muscle cars of Ford, Chevrolet, Ferrari, and Dodge. The collector value of Lotus eSprit S1 is $100,000 USD on average. This will change based on the condition of the original vehicles.
Elon Musk Owns the Submarine Version
Elon Musk, the businessman and richest person in the world is a proud owner of the iconic Lotus eSprit S1. What’s special is that he bought the James Bond movie version of the vehicle, which was a submarine. He purchased the Wet Nellie for $1 million in 2013 in an auction. Elon Musk was a big fan of the vehicle when he saw it on the screen in the film and this is where he decided to purchase it and transform it into a real vehicle.
It is an Ultra Rare Vehicle
Lotus Esprit S1 was not just an exotic sports car, it was a rare vehicle as well. The vehicle was built at Hethel and only 714 units were made. It was bought by rich people in the UK, business people, James Bond fans, and owners of collector markets. When the vehicle appeared in the James Bond film, there was a huge demand from fans and buyers, but the manufacturers didn’t show interest to extend the production as their goal was to keep this a rare vehicle.