RM Sotheby’s sold a bunch of art, parts and cars in Monaco this weekend for their once-every-other-year sale. One big bit of automobilia, and the last lot before the actual cars started — to help blur the lines — was the S1 Lotus Esprit “believed to be used during the filming of the 1977 James Bond hit The Spy Who Loved Me.
One word is doing a lot of lifting for this prop. But that didn’t stop bidders from enthusiastically throwing in for this Esprit. The first bid opened at €120,000/$142,560 and shot up from there.
Some background on the lot beyond the previous catalog quote: “Esprit shell features dive planes and stabilising fins, periscope, and four impellers. Purchased by the vendor in 2007 and displayed at PowerPark in Finland. Freshly restored by Makela Auto Tuning; presented on an easy-to-move stand.”
The auctioneer hammered the sale closed at €710,000/$843,480, which resulted in a final price of €852,000/$1,148,481. Hoo boy.
That’s an impressive price for a fun display. I can’t help but wonder, however, if this is the peak for this particular piece.
Are the folks who remember 1977 increasing? Maybe James Bond interest will resurge when MGM/Amazon recasts the spy and they remake The Spy Who Loved Me. For now, well sold.
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