The Lotus Esprits of James Bond
The Bond Vivant
SeendPosts: 1,347MI6 Agent
Hi all. Here's a teaser for an upcoming video that I made this week covering the Lotuses of the Moore Era. The most impressive, forensically replicated cars I have ever seen, and I get to drive them!
Something for the weekend, sir? Perhaps sir would like a little sneak preview of my next film....
I hope that you folks enjoy it.
Cheers,
Blair
Comments
Looks great! Looking forward to learning more about those.
Need to temper my excitement Blair! Have you got a publish date in mind?
👏👏👏
Love it blair, that's super cool
Takes me back to my childhood with TSWLM , the first corgi and the first Moore film I watched.
Excellent !!!!!
My camera man is editing it at the mo. Hopefully in 2-3 weeks.
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Can't wait mate. Thank you👍️
This looks to be another great addition to The Bond Vivant channel 🍸
Many years ago a boss of mine had a Lotus Esprit Turbo and I badgered him until he took me out for a drive in it 🤣
The Esprit has always given me goosebumps. As a young boy growing up watching Roger as Bond, the Esprit's were just everything!
One of my first jobs (c.1993) was valeting cars and the dealership Sales Manager had a penchant for buying sports cars at auction and selling them along side average daily drivers. One day he returned from auction with a beautiful 1986 (non Turbo) S3 in dark metallic green with cream leather interior. I was tasked with spending the week prepping it and loved every moment working on it. It went on the forecourt (my only experience of driving one, was the 50m from the workshop to forecourt) for sale at £8995. How I wish I'd had the funds and driveway space to purchase it then.
I wish decent ones were that price now: I wouldn't hesitate :)
Here it is! My epic day at the Top Gear test track throwing some James Bond Lotus Esprits around. Enjoy!
#notimetodie #bond25 #jamesbond #007 #danielcraig #seanconnery #thebondvivant #georgelazenby #timothydalton #rogermoore #lotusesprit #wetnellie #thespywholovedme #foryoureyesonly #topgear
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Fantastic work Blair. Looked like you were having a great time driving the Lotus. The mix with of your footage and TSWLM took me back to a couple years ago when I was Sardinia. I managed to visit the Cala di Volpe and the site where the Lotus does a 360 trying to outrun the helicopter. There is a nice cafe on the site now with spectacular views across the bay. Thanks for sharing this. I always loved the Bond's Lotus'.
Ditto...a fantastic video...and a joy to see the deux chevaux really flying along...the basket of eggs look in safe hands!
Finally got around to watching this today…an absolute blast and so expertly done - massive congratulations 🍸
Glad you enjoyed it! You did say after my Turnbull & Asser film that I had set myself a tough act to follow. I hope that the bar has been suitably raised! We produce less content than some, but try to raise the stakes each time. Not sure how we can top this! Might have to rein it back a little for the next one!
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Did anyone notice the Bond Easter egg parked up behind the 3 Esprits? For legal reasons we couldn't mention it during filming, but the eagle-eyed amongst you will put two and two together, I reckon....
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I did say that 🤣
And this one is better 😳 just.
Perhaps you need to ‘reboot’ your series now 👀🤣
I look forward to the next 🍸
Excellent videos!
Thanks for taking the time to make these, they’re both informative and entertaining!
Good work.
Yes, nice touch Blair. Shame you weren't allowed to mention it..?
I have just learnt that The Lotus Esprit that featured in the James Bond Platinum Jubilee Procession down The Mall to Buckingham Palace, was the one that I drove around the Top Gear Test track!
If you haven't seen the epic film we shot, check it out here...
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Do you mean the 747 used in CR? Why couldn't you mention it?
That's a lot of fun that 'your' car featured in the parade- a bit of history there! 😁
I couldn't mention it because it is only half "owned" by the Dunsfold team. The other "half" gave us strict instructions that we couldn't mention it or promote the Bond connection....
And, yes, Uber-cool to see "my" Esprit going up The Mall and into history...
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How bizarre, I can't imagine what their issue is there. It's not like it's even open to the public most of the time! 😊 I guess Eon must've said they can keep the engine nacelles on the condition that they never exploit the Bond brand or something.
I've only been there twice, and one of those times was actually while they were shooting CR! I visited in the daytime so of course I didn't see any action going on, but I did see the smashed baggage car with its luggage strewn all across the runway, and they'd installed low level lampposts everywhere.
EDIT: I see it's actually available for filming as a prop, so I guess it would make more sense that they wouldn't be able to use the 007 brand, if it weren't that they do actually mention Bond on their page and feature a clip from CR! 😅
https://www.aviationfilming.com/dunsfold-boeing-747/#:~:text=The%20Dunsfold%20Boeing%20747%20is,film%20producers%20achieve%20aviation%20shots.
I can only imagine what it must cost to maintain.
Any way, sorry for hijacking your thread, Blair. I have just re-watched the Lotus video and it's superb. Lots of interesting stuff and very entertaining too.