007's Lotus Esprit Road Test - Was It Really Slower Than A Van??

The Lotus Esprit was the start of the James Bond 007 film 'The Spy Who Loved Me'. BUT with a mere 160hp and a four cylinder engine it is thought by some as slower than a van. Is this fair? was it too slow to be a 007 car? I road test it and tell you how it drives and explain how they turned it into a submarine and made the gadgets like the missile launchers..
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This video explains some of the scenes and special effects from the 007 Movie "The Spy Who Loved Me'. All rights for the movie are retained by MGM (www.mgm.com). The use of brief sections of copyrighted content falls under the guidelines of fair use in section 107 of the Copyright Act. The clips were taken from the chase scene on this youtube link: • James Bond 007 - The S...
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[@TheFoolishboy9]

Lotus Cortina??

[@Number27]

Apologies.. Slip of the tongue.. I know it’s a standard Ford. As evidenced later in the video when I talk about engine power at 105hp for the V6 versions.

[@E92M3Guy]

It was a Ford Taunus ghia , Jack. 👍

[@federicomalignani4957]

This movie was filmed in Costa Smeralda,Sardina,but there was another 007 filmed in Cortina,Dolomites,with another Esprit,I think a series 2. Intriguing car,never driven one,in Italy they were extremely rare. I am absolutely convinced they had a great balance for their time and that the chassis was very good,and they were also very light,after all that was Colin Chapman's doctrine,and this make them very interesting cars. They have always been compared with the Ferrari 308,but probably the best comparison is with the Alpine A 310,another car with a similar light philosophy. Even when they were new,the interior seemed fragile and of poor quality,and most of them have deteriorated like this one.This is a car for people who love real driving,without frills.Very,very interesting,expecially for non british followers,I think. And the Alpine A 110 and A 310 should be another interesting experiences to drive. Last but not least,I could not belive that you can fit inside the Esprit!! Ciao Giacomo.

[@deanstevenson6527]

@ David Smith. We cut secret Agent 27 some slack when he says 2.2 litre Cortina V6 when he means 2.3 litre, and Ford Taunus/ Cortina when he says Lotus Cortina.And especially when he says a de Tomaso makes maximum torque where it actually makes maximum power. Because he's such a gentleman 🥝✔️.

[@lucian6395]

@@federicomalignani4957 Your thinking of "For Your Eyes Only". The bronze esprit with ski's on the back is peak 80's bond car for me.

[@btimec5290]

The guy that willed it back to the original owner was a class act

[@garethjudd5840]

As a 10 year old boy back in 1977, this was the most awesome bond car I had ever seen

[@lib556]

I was 12 and felt the same way.

[@martinmalone6324]

I was 9, had a model for that christmas, played with it to death did all the tricks just didn't spurt concrete, shame really.

[@zahemi914]

I thought I was the only one.....and I was 7...the youngest among uols...😁

[@joeking4206]

Me too! I'm slightly older, but not much. Tbh I think the S4 is even more beautiful, and re-designed by a Brit after the masterpiece of Giugiaro. I should buy one before I die 👍

[@markthoughtswithukrainemas2072]

Do you want to hear a funny story !!!! every time I saw a Triumph TR7 I though it was the bond car !!!! think I was the same age as you

[@grimson]

I absolutely love the Esprit and don't care at all, AT ALL, about its use in the Bond films. It's an iconic car in its own right. I also don't care that's it's underpowered by exotic car standards. Look at it. Look at it!

[@davidstuart4915]

indeed, the Mk1, like the Countach were almost literally, out of this world for the time period

[@jkk244]

It was in the spring of 1977, months before The Spy Who Loved Me was released, that a strange Esprit body (wheel-less of course) sat on a trailer in front of the only Lotus dealer in St Louis, Missouri. Of course, it was one of the submarine models used in the movie. I was a teenager who happened to be driving past the Lotus dealer so I stopped to take a look at the strange thing. Somebody in the crowd mentioned it was a submarine and it would appear in the next James Bond movie, but that’s all we knew about it. The windshield was just a simple piece of plexiglass (Perspex) with strips of black electrical tape running across it, forming the black “bars”. It was very clear to everyone that there was no way this “submarine” was watertight at all. But it really resembled the real car with tail lights and other authentic trim. It was cool as hell to see something from the movies - and especially a James Bond movie. My guess is that this submarine prop was trailered across the United States to be briefly shown at the few Lotus dealers that existed in the country at that time. Months later, when the movie premiered, it was very special to have seen the submarine that was up on the big screen.

[@TheRip72]

It was not intended to be watertight. It needed to be filled with water or else it would float.

[@elveggoloco]

I was 9 that summer and had never heard of James Bond. We were visiting family in the suburbs of Cleveland Ohio and had popped into the mall for some errand or other and there inside the mall, right outside the entrance to the movie theater, inside a velvet rope was the sleekest, sexiest, most mysterious car I'd ever seen! I know in hindsight that it wasn't one of the actual movie-cars because it was silver, probably borrowed from the local dealer as a promotional tie-in, but I had never heard of Lotus at that age either and had no clue what it was- and was too gobsmacked and spellbound by it to look for badges to read! This car SERIOUSLY dripped, nee, SPEWED mystique! There was this geeky slightly older kid with buck-teeth and glasses standing nearby who said, "this car can go under WAAAAter! Heheheheheh!" and mentioned that it was from that movie over there, pointing to the big cardboard cutout-display for The Spy Who Loved Me. I remember the cutout having a very handsome fella with a pistol, and a really swanky sexy lady slinked-up on him, and all these action-shots of helicopters and boats and...the car, as a submarine! Gobsmacked again, I started looking inside the wheel-wells trying to spot the hidden dive-planes and such. I think I saw a rear hub-carrier and thought it was a dive-plane. Such a dweeb I was at that age! A couple of years later I discovered James Bond and became a HUGE fan, seeing them every time ABC would show them on Saturday nights. My first Bond on the big screen was For Your Eyes Only. Fast forward to 2010, when I became the proud owner of a 1986 Turbo Esprit in a rare colour. People always asked me if it could go underwater, and I'd dodge answering by countering with, "the real question is, do you really want to be in a submarine with a British electrical system?" :D

[@biegendesrohr9550]

Thank you guys for sharing your experiences wirh us. That really brings the 70ties back a little bit and the feelings you had at that time. I'm born in 1974 and in the eighties I was playing wirh my uncles toy cars he still had from the corgi-brand. He had the bat-mobile with the bat-boat, a car from U.N.C.L.E. and two Bondcars, the Jaguar from you only live twice with a computer display sticker behind the seats and a rocket launcher in the trunk and the Goldfinger Aston with all the gimicks, all original from the 60ties from corgi or corgy or what the brand was called. In the 80ties my Grandma, my mentioned uncles mother, bought me two Bondcars from corgi. The Goldfinger Aston Martin and the Lotus Esprit who could change into a submarine. Also from corgi just from the 80ties. What was interesting was the comparison of the 80ties and the 60ties DB5. They had both exactly the same gimicks, but the 80ties version was a bit bigger, so that bot cars weren't "compatible" gamewise, and it was more silver, while I think the 60ties version had a little bit of golden tint to the colour. Kerp having fun with Bond and your memories! Greetz from germany!

[@coomavoon1928]

Loved the fact the guy left Dave the car in his will. He must have been impressed with Dave when buying the vehicle from him.

[@philt5782]

What a lovely story eh?

[@ryanmccormick2150]

If I owned that Esprit power would never come into play because I'd drive slow so everyone could see me driving one of the coolest cars ever made! Excellent stuff as always Jack 👍

[@Number27]

😄😄😁 it’s a great driving car and looks great too!

[@ryanmccormick2150]

@@Number27 best of both worlds! Not many cars have those characteristics!

[@ernstfihn4925]

The Lotus submarine was not built in California, it was built in Florida by a company called Perry Oceanographics in Riviera Beach. It was basically a wet sub (SDV). The car body was free flooding. It was driven by a diver ( a difficult task). The components for the sub came from an SDV called the Shark Hunter.

[@turdferguson4124]

Although in my opinion the Goldfinger Aston Martin is hands down the best Bond car ever, this Lotus is incredibly cool. A 160hp engine in a car weighing only 1000kg is not bad at all from a power to weight standpoint, especially in the mid 1970s. Considering the driving dynamics of the chassis and the low center of gravity, this car would be very fun to drive and still quite fast. This is a very desirable car.

[@hotwheels1838]

My honda civic could beat that car in a race 😮

[@BloatedScrotum]

@@hotwheels1838 Not in a race to get the girls knickers off.

[@antking8847]

As the owner of a 1976 white Lotus Elite, this video really touched my heart. Many people mistake it for the Esprit lol. Mine is undergoing the longest and slowest ever restoration but one day I will have it back on the road. Only wish I could fit in the Esprit. Thanks Jack

[@thecraggrat]

And I make 3, I have a white 1978 Series 1 Eclat that will be on the road next year *honest*! The weather has turned now and the garage holds the car, but I can't work on the car in the garage....so the weather has to be good.

[@williejack3695]

what a fantastic car and a great story. As a boy growing up and drawing cars, the Lotus Esprit was the car I would draw

[@scottjohnson4319]

I've always loved the S1 and the purity of design especially in white, can't help but have the Bond theme in my head. Never seen one let alone drive it so thanks Jack for sharing this one. Looks like so much fun.

[@ChristianRThomas]

Yup. I wholly agree. Even the S2.2 in white doesn't quite capture it. Purity is the right word.

[@GBURGE55]

My uncle bought a yellow S1 in 1983. He had it for 3 or 4 year's & I can remember him saying that it hardly ever ran properly, but I thought it was the best looking car I'd ever seen. He only took me out in it once (I was 18 at the time) & was so disappointed when he sold it & replaced it with a Ford Capri 2.8 injection!

[@Curmudgeon2]

Years ago when I was in the MS National Guard, we were at annual training at Camp Shelby and I had to take a helicopter to check out some remote locations. My NG pilot had actually flow the helicopter that chased James Bond on one of the movies.

[@roadwarrior144]

The multiple shells to do each effect (one for the wheels folding in, one for the fairings filling the wheel arch, one for the hydrofoils extending through the fairings filling the arches, etc) were built by Perry Oceanographics in Florida. Another interesting note: the camera car for all the motion shots was owned by Colin Chapman (Chairman of Lotus at the time) because it was the only car, that was also available, that could keep up. Thank you for posting this great video!!!!!! Edit: That bit about the technician doing the driving was absolutely true. Story has it that the tech was preparing/testing the car for the days filming and Broccoli (Saltzman was out if the picture by this time) saw the guy hot-rodding it up the roads and was impressed. When the guy got back, Broccoli purportedly said “Could you do that again, but this time we’ll have the cameras rolling.”

[@berwhaletheavenger]

Great stuff! I had the pleasure of driving a 1977 S1 Esprit in 1995, an immaculate lime green example belonging to a Lotus collector as well as a gold S2. The S1 (Tartan!) was an absolute joy to drive - comfortable, excellent ride and sublime handling. In truth they competed with the 165 bhp 911's, Lancia Monte Carlo etc. I worked at a Lotus dealer at the time and preferred the n/a S3 2.2 over all of them. The Cortina is a 2.3 Ghia Taunus, the European market version. 108 bhp and fairly brisk - a bit over nine seconds to sixty, 110 all out.

[@bedfordshiremodeller4491]

I havva picture of a Lotus Esprit S2 in Orange bodypanels

[@RichardBeds]

Hi Jack, you mentioned that CGI wasn’t available when they filmed the Bond film. What is really impressive is that the producers have resisted using CGI, preferring to do the stunts for real, old school, which is why they’re always a good watch.

[@alexwild4350]

Same with the film Ronin.

[@casinowilhelm]

Some of the brosnan films had terrible cgi and there's some really obvious green screen work in the Roger Moore films. Also, just because something looks like it didn't use cgi can just mean it's been done so well you can't tell. Eg Fury Road has loads of cgi...

[@RichardBeds]

@@casinowilhelm well I’m just going by what the producers have stated.

[@AnonymousAndy2]

Who cares, it the coolest Bond car ever 😂

[@akrambaig2689]

My dream car 😆 then having a woman in your dreams

[@simonhodgetts6530]

And for that matter the coolest Corgi Bond Car too!

[@callelindstrom4789]

One of the best Bond movies of all time. Very cool video. Thx for doing it 🫶🏻

[@ngc-fo5te]

Just no - and complete and utter no.

[@thisguy555]

I got a hot wheels model of this beast from the dark ages 😂

[@iandewsnap1119]

A few glaring slips this time Jack. It was Roger Becker, a very highly respected man, who’s son Matt went on to inherit the driving skills and after Lotus joined Aston Martin. Both remarkable development engineers. And aLotus Cortina was an entirely different machine to the lowly mark 4 used in the film.

[@Number27]

Yes I know on the Lotus Corina.. I knew full well it was a boggo Ford (as evidenced later when I talk about the v6 engine version and power) but I often mix up words. Could be old age or just general idiocy.

[@Peter-Oxley-Modelling-Lab]

I recognise that road from 'Harry's Garage'!?

[@gavinivers8941]

There was a tie up with Vauxhall and Lotus when developing the engine, to the point that the first season Vauxhall Chevette ran in rallying, it ran a Lotus engine, until someone at the FIA said NO , there after the Chevette ran a Vauxhall motor. There was even a CF van used to with a twin cam Lotus head used to develop the head ....

[@GSimpsonOAM]

Prototype was based on Vauxhall block but Lotus went on to develop their own Aluminium block. There was the Lotus 906 then 907 Engine used in Esprit. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_900_series

[@PaulDoldenDetails]

I still think it’s up there with some of the most iconic movie cars of all time great video Jack

[@amphilbey]

Love the video and what a brilliant story about the generosity of the owner, well done for telling. These Esprits spent too long out of fashion so good to see them getting coverage.

[@douglasprewer7913]

My company bought one of the Turbo Esprit versions of these cars and managers were allowed to use it on the weekends, I can tell you it was the fastest thing on four wheels and on the M4 from a standing start it went straight up to 135 no problem. Bearing in mind most cars of the time struggled to achieve 100!

[@fetus2280]

Probably one of my utmost favorite cars to have existed . Thanks for the video mate . Cheers.

[@ThePedroDB]

The S1 & S2 Esprits had compromised rear suspension. The drive shafts were load bearing and there were a lot of NVH issues as a result. Poor rust protection also meant that the backbone Chassis tended to rot (previous Lotus had the same issue) . I owned a 1984 NA Esprit S3, which had the (galvanised) chassis from the Turbo and resolved all the earlier issues. It had the looks of the first car but the better build quality and reliability of the later models. It was absolutely brilliant and I ran it for years as my daily driver without any issues. Personally, I loved the Citroen SM gearbox

[@Mike-rk8px]

All out speed wasn’t the point of the Esprit, or any other Lotus. The point of any Lotus is handling that is beyond compare, and a driver/car connection that is magical. I’ve owned a 1979 and a 1987 Esprit, and despite the usual Lotus problems, nothing compares to experience behind the wheel, and high speed stability is excellent. Even if they weren’t running at the moment, I’d still pull up a chair and just stare at it because they were so beautiful.

[@jamesgallagher1992]

Great comment about pulling up a chair...yep id totally agree🤣👍

[@thecompanioncube4211]

They kept that image for so fucking long it's astonishing

[@DanielHillCoaching]

Damn, he got it left in his will and it came home. Love it! 😍

[@markwalton8644]

A White S1 Esprit has to be on the Bucket List. Not just a fine handling and rorty, travelling slowly through a town, shades on and occasionally seeing a reflection of the car would make a very special drive!!!!

[@eze8970]

Thanks for another iconic car Jack! 🙏🙏

[@travkatz]

This is the best video I've seen that you've made. The way you saved the personal story until the end was moving.

[@Number27]

Thank you.. that’s really lovely to hear!

[@RzogL]

Such a pure shape. Shame they kept diluting it with every subsequent iteration. I have been obsessed with this car since I saw it on the cover of a classic car mag back in 2000, and as I write this I've got a Corgi model of Paul Murray's last ever S1 produced on my desk, next to one I made myself out of an A4 sheet of paper. There's a restomodded S2 out there with the normally aspirated engine pushed from 160 bhp to well over 200 bhp, making it quicker than the turbo Giugiaro cars. I gather electronic ignition helps make underpowered 70s and 80s cars like this one and the 308 finally feel quick, even in a modern context. Just imagine a Monaco White S1 on slot mags but with upgraded brakes, a/c, door seals and cooling fans, and the type 907 engine kicking out enough power to see off a Honda NSX... Sounds like perfection to me!

[@greenridge7945]

Lovely story and great car. Made such an impression as a kid in the film. Always loved them, even all the velour!

[@rhannay39]

Development over the lifetime of the Esprit was amazing. I drove one of the five race prepped X180Rs and it was incredible.

[@gh-vi9tk]

I trained for Fedex known as Federal express in the 80's. The training was at the Old Bell , Stansted Mountfitchet Essex. On the walls were lots of interesting things including the very original steering wheel from that Bond Lotus. The owner at the time had an Esprit in the car park, he told me he got it from Daley Thompson.

[@josephwanjiku6853]

The runner, wow, nice story.

[@peterC12221]

Brilliant review Jack. Many thanks, really enjoyed it!

[@tristan7586]

Love your reviews! Great to see you the Esprit covered so well, and a view of the drive. And a lovely background story about the owners - Thanks Jack.

[@Number27]

Thanks chap!!!

[@1439of2000]

The owner leaving the car to a previous owner that loved the car too is epic stuff.

[@chrismadge7292]

Great video Jack, really interesting to hear how they made the film. Amazing story at the end too!

[@MrSandseeker]

Great story and a great car! Thanks for the entertaining video Jack!

[@onlypendants]

The Lotus Esprit was my dream car as a kid. I still get butterflies in my stomach when i see one today...such a beautiful streamlined piece of machine. 😍

[@liverpoolscottish6430]

Ditto! I can vividly recall drawing Lotus Esprit side profiles in the back of my exercise book at Junior school circa 1981! lol I was obsessed with the Esprit styling and I remain an ardent fan.

[@NYKgjl10]

Still my personal favorite Lotus auto of all time and my top 3 foreign car I would love to own. Excellent video, Jack. Keep up the good work on your vids!!

[@ThePaulrmcadam]

Another great video. Good job bro!!

[@nikolavasos6224]

You made my day! lovely video ! Many thanks from Crete Greece

[@jjjdynamo4362]

Another fantastic video, keep up the great work ❤

[@Rob.Coleman]

Enjoyed this, great stuff 👍👍.

[@marcel1463]

One of my favorite Bond movies. Thank you for the great background stories of the Lotus Esprit.

[@leebuckles2364]

Another amazing car with a great back story keep going jack we need more content like this

[@michaelnugara1]

Love this vid mate. Very interesting info from the movie. Thanks for sharing

[@MarcosCodas]

Very few things more pleasurable than finding a new channel you love and bingeing videos for daaaaays.

[@michaelkim3432]

Great vid Jack!! Always loved the early Esprits!

[@tarekmirdad]

I definitely enjoyed your video very much. Well done.

[@catxls1835]

Love the S1,2 and 3! Great video Jack!

[@michaelreed8540]

Thank you for making such interesting videos. Your work is world class.

[@Number27]

So nice of you, thanks!

[@TheMrFishnDucks]

Very nice car. The chocolate interior has really grown on me over the course of this video. Looking forward to the next car video. Keep up the good work.

[@johnireland1629]

Great story. I've never owned a Lotus but if I did decide to get one, a car like this would be my choice. I love the lines, and I'm more into handling than power these days. Fun show, thank you.

[@ngc-fo5te]

This has neither handling nor power. And an interior you have to close your eyes with. It just showed the complete bollocks the 70s British car industry had become and why there really is no British car industry anymore.

[@gregchristofi1318]

Great vid, my favourite bond car of all time.... such a heart warming story on how the car found it's way back to the owner too.

[@scpromark]

Fantastic. Great post. 👍🏻

[@geoffclarke3796]

Cheers Jack. The Spy Who Loved Me is one of my favourite 007 films and the first I remember, coming out when I was 7. A few years later in the early 80's, I remember a comparison test in CAR Magazine that pitched the then newly launched Esprit Turbo against a 308 and they preferred the Lotus. In fairness, I think it was one of the early injected 308's which I understand are a bit gutless compared to the carb 308 like Jacks and the subsequent QV so the Esprit Turbo would have been much quicker.

[@kramnam4716]

That was great and what an uplifting story. Bless that fella!🙏🏼💚

[@davebarron5939]

This was a lot of fun, Thanks.

[@manumores]

Finally a review of an S1! Thanx Jack! Looking forwards to the Europa

[@garrydavis3475]

Nice work as per usual jack thanks again

[@Number27]

Thanks Garry!

[@thesaint2700]

Love your videos, number 27! Pure and honest, with some wonderful, old cars, like this S1 Esprit from the first James Bond movie I watched as young petrol head

[@hvh377]

Thinking about it: this car fits the Roger Moore Bond like a glove. This car is elegant and charming with a light touch. Just like Roger Moore as Bond. Not like the more heavy-handed sort of Bond. Like Sean Connery or Daniel Craig. A big proper Bentley or a brutish Aston is more suitable for that sort of Bond.

[@idesignyou...9257]

What an amazing story! Got to love the Esprit such a gorgeous sports car!

[@rolfsvensson5777]

Hi there! Very easy to "BOND" with that car! Love it!

[@staric4863]

Another British marvel from Lotus. There is another cool chap from UK restoring his MK2; It shows how well this car has been thought, designed. Thanks for this nice review.

[@TheRetroShed]

I was 6 years old when my dad took me to see Spy Who Loved Me. I fell in love with the Esprit on that day and I’m now 51 and always promised myself a pre-1987 facelift Esprit. I’m not sure whether I want one in case it shatters my dreams. It’s absolutely stunning design has never left me and perhaps I’ll get to drive one one day and that will make or break the dream for me. Great video! Note: I believe the underwater cars were built by Perry Submarines for the movie.

[@philzvids3577]

Great video. That film is one of my favourites - best plot, best Bond girl, best car and best theme tune (in my opinion only of course!) But who wouldn't love hurtling along the roads with Barbara Bach next to them? Love the story about that particular car and even though that model isn't that fast I would love to own one.

[@neilmarshment2910]

I loved this video. As a huge Bond fan I remember going to the cinema in 1977 to see the movie and was so excited to see the Lotus in action and just as excited to get the Corgi model (which I still have - in a tatty box). Too young at the time to drive I really wanted to drive one, still do! I have owned a variety of car since and miss the ‘analogue’ driving experience of older cars, that connected feeling. What a fabulous story of ownership as well. Thank you 🙂

[@philt5782]

What an amazing story and video. Thanks for posting. The Lotus Esprit is my favourite car, apart from my 1998 XKR :)

[@dadcars]

Awesome video, iconic car and what a story 👏

[@jeanclaude4]

Its really one of the all time greatest automobile designs. Its just so cool. Captures a time of my car loving youth that brings a smile.

[@CarDaddy24]

Amazing video, love the story at the end, what a cool guy to pass it back to the original owner.

[@neiljgould]

uplifting story thanks for sharing. My dad worked in the motor trade and once brought home an s2 Esprit in yellow. loved it ( I was about 9 years old . Remember my dad saying you've have a job getting this to skid ! unlike the old 5 series bmw he'd also recently brought home !! I love the S3 you had , I don't know how you parted wit that beauty.

[@stevesas632]

Nice in depth video, & love the part about the next buyer leaving it in his will.

[@keithgreen9009]

That was a great video ... and nice to see you are heading to 100 subscribers 👍

[@Number27]

Thanks Keith!!

[@richardwells4370]

Great Video , I saw the film when it came out , loved the car, my fist car was an Elan S130 kept for years . I always knew though the esprit’s were a bit troublesome , but still lovely to own

[@jamesadlam9875]

Thanks, very interesting video

[@Lemma01]

Super vid, Jack. Love that car - the one Lotus I'm still waiting to own. Likely to stay that way! The S1 performance is always secondary, simply because it's an icon. You may have made some comparison with the S1 Elise?

[@richhaytonNZ]

Brilliant, fascinating facts and great watch :).

[@davidh2022]

I had an S4S back late 90's - I loved it but it jesus it was a handful - I totally get the - enough power - light - well set up handling. Love it!

[@713vinh]

OMG I remember watching that Bond movie and fell totally in love with this Lotus. Will always have a place in my heart for this car.

[@craftingmat5425]

Another Video I absolutely LIKE and I am really sorry I can hit the Like Button just once. The story is so cool, the info and the film snippets really add up... Also I have some weakness for any Lotus (regretting having sold mine a few months ago), this is so good content! Appreciated and LIKE!!

[@Number27]

Thanks chap!!

[@nicholasknight9360]

The biggest engine in the Cortina of that era was a 2 litre.... Also what Jack didn't mention was, the Esprit was designed for downforce. Which kept it on the seabed, hence the rudders were added to keep it going through the water and off the seabed.

[@dontommaso2760]

Actually, there was a 108hp 2.3 litre V6 version available as well. Ford Taunus already had it for the Mk3 but the Cortina did not get it until the Mk4 version.

[@nicholasknight9360]

@@dontommaso2760 My apologies, you are very correct

[@dontommaso2760]

@@nicholasknight9360 No worries - I had the opportunity to drive one many years ago and it was a bit more responsive than my 2 litre version but it would never have caught the Lotus...especially not on those winding roads...

[@lang11239]

Lovely car, great video. 🙂

[@jimbofaulty]

What a lovely story at the end.

[@markclevedon81]

Thankyou Jack. A fabulous review and I enjoyed the references to the Bond movie. Using a Lotus was always a risk after the Aston Martin cars but its exotic looks and story line overcame that prejudice but we must remember that this was still a fast, exciting car in the late1970s.

[@Number27]

Glad you enjoyed Mark, thanks!!

[@darranwatson1840]

@@Number27 was the turbo version the lotus in prettywoman that r. gere couldn’t drive a stick shift. That was a cool car and colour

[@iansmeath8674]

Oh that submersible lotus! Yes absolutely worthy for Bond IMO. Getting slightly jealous of your line of work Jack, folks bring you interesting cars to drive...😲....brilliant! Great vid.

[@robertlloyd7493]

Amazing to think Lotus still lives !

[@peterrenn6341]

Lovely thing! - Seventies-tastic interior is great: The manic all-over the place speedo might well be just a kinked or dry drive cable but it's perfectly in character.

[@ngc-fo5te]

Interior is an utter eyesore.

[@bedfordshiremodeller4491]

​@@ngc-fo5te True but that,s how they designed them back then

[@richardgrumbine4867]

One of my favorite cars to look at… so beautiful! On several occasions I looked at buying a used one… but so far it has not happened… but I have not given up hope…

[@brianweekes1]

Oooh excellent video!!

[@rcmakingtracks18]

Great story, top video. Keep em coming. We'll done. John

[@mrbeancounter90]

Bond car crossover content is always appreciated, thanks!

[@Number27]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@AntBangBang]

Great video Jack. It’s a car I’ve always loved. If you ever get the chance to review a Bandit TransAm I’d love to see that.

[@stevesmith9351]

Enjoyed that cheers 🍻

[@steadfastandyx4947]

Wonderful car and fantastic bond car and bond film. The cortina was good too. Great vid.

[@sylviabruinewoud2985]

Great car and a true icon. Looking fwd to the Europa video as I own one of those. An S1 to be precise.

[@Number27]

Ah Great, fab cars those! Thanks for watching Sylvia!

[@raymondchan9802]

I reckon the S1 Esprit is the best looking one. Thanks for this wonderful video. Any S1 just look great in white.

[@rhettcorcoran2879]

Very interesting video and a great car.