Info für Besucher ohne Javascript

Premium

Lotus Esprit S1 - the sports car we love

This article was auto-translated. We apologize if some words are confusing or simply amusing. Would you like to help us improve?

Created on November 24, 2021

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

10

Bruno von Rotz

40

Archiv

19

Daniel Reinhard

10

Bruno von Rotz

40

Archiv

19

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - the 150 hp was enough for a top speed of almost 216 km/h in tests at the time

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - Dream in white

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - according to the factory specification of 220 km/h at the time

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - it was also known as the "hip flask"

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - even 150 hp is enough for a lot of driving pleasure, you don't need 2000 horsepower

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - looks attractive even with the headlights up

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - the flat wedge still looks very attractive today

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - James Bond's pursuers usually saw it from this perspective

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - because it is only 1072 mm high, it looks quite expansive even at 1.79 meters wide

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - fun even without Barbara Bach in the passenger seat

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - the front wheels are significantly narrower than the rear wheels

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - the raised folding headlights look elegant

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - classic wedge shape with few curves

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - compared to the original show car, the windshield had to be made steeper

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - no-frills design

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - almost 179 cm wide, the mirrors barely make the car wider

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - the car is clearly older than the houses behind it, but it hardly catches the eye

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - the almost flat windshield is striking

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - just over four meters long

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - the interior still looks modern today

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - the seats can only be adjusted lengthways

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - room for two

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - sporty and attractive interior

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - narrow cockpit, the steering wheel is not original

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - six instruments directly in front of the driver

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - the instruments were made by Veglia

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - beautifully drawn instruments in an unusual color scheme

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - left switch for lighting control

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - on the right the heater control and switch for fan and rear window heater

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - Panasonic hi-fi audio system on the ceiling

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - this roof-mounted Panasonic hi-fi system is rare

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - the Panasonic hi-fi audio system on the ceiling does look a bit like James Bond

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - the bomb disposal expert James Bond never wants to see this number

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - retrofitted tartan interior

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - the fabric parts are a welcome splash of color

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - normally the engine is hidden under a plastic hood

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - accessibility to the engine could be worse

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - the light-alloy engine is installed longitudinally

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - the two-liter 16-valve engine in the rear

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - powerfully dimensioned carburetors ensure a high liter output

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - the two-liter four-cylinder engine is housed directly behind the seats

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - beautifully designed Esprit lettering on the nose

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - the designer reveals himself on the flank

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

$Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - polished Wolfrace wheels$

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - esprit lettering on the flank

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - Memories of the great successes of the Lotus F1 team

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - large rear lights from Italy

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - the rear lights of the Esprit were also used on the Fiat X 1/9

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - Lotus lettering on the rear

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - Lotus lettering on the rear

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit (1972) - the prototype by Italdesign/Giugiaro, note the flat windshield, which had to be modified for production

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

$Lotus Esprit (1972) - the prototype by Giugiaro (Ital Design) was already on Wolfrace wheels$

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit (1973) - the prototype at the 1973 Geneva Motor Show

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit (1973) - The interior of the Giugiaro prototype - steering wheel and dashboard - seen at the 1973 Geneva Motor Show

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1975) - Presentation of the Giugiaro pre-series model in Paris in 1975

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1977) - wedge-shaped coupé with two-liter, sixteen-valve engine - Geneva Motor Show 1977

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit (1977) - the production version was very close in design to Giugiaro's Konept car

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit (1977) - the silhouette shows the almost complete focus on flat surfaces and wedge shapes - illustration from the 1977 brochure

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

$Lotus Esprit (1977) - The Series 1 had Wolfrace rims - Illustration from the 1977 brochure$

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit (1977) - View of the first series from diagonally behind - Illustration from the 1977 brochure

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1978) - built largely unchanged, at the 1978 Geneva Motor Show

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit (1978) - the interior of the S1-Esprit, typically the fabric seats

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit S1 (1978) - at the Geneva Motor Show

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit (1978) - Silhouette of the S1

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit (1976) - the wedge that became reality - close to the prototype created by Giugiaro

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit (1977) - the appearance in the James Bond film was a complete success for Lotus

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit (1977) - Film recording The Spy who loved me - Lotus Esprit S1 under water

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit (1977) - the underwater version of the James Bond car was a scaled-down copy that was not ready to drive

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus Esprit (1977) - 'Underwater Lotus' in the James Bond movie 'The Spy Who Loved Me'

You have only

4 out of 69

images seen in high resolution

Summary

In 1977, a sports car that had previously only interested enthusiasts achieved worldwide film fame. Roger Moore, alias James Bond, drove a white Lotus Esprit S1 in the movie "The Spy, who loved me". With a plastic body and a slender four-cylinder engine, the British mid-engined sports car did not necessarily correspond to the image of a super sports car at the time. This driving report characterizes the Esprit of the first series and shows it in current and historical images. Sales literature, sound samples and a video are also included.

This article contains the following chapters

Four years from show car to production version
Sobering test results
Brief guest appearance
Drive like James Bond
Form and function

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Did Roger Moore like the Lotus Esprit S1? According to contemporary interviews, the British actor certainly liked the not entirely problem-free sports car. In any case, the Bond film "The Spy who loved me" was characterized by the white Lotus Esprit, which could transform into a submarine at the touch of a button. For the sports car company, the appearance of the then still new mid-engined sports car was a stroke of luck that has kept demand for the early models high to this day. The Giugiaro design of the later Lotus Esprit (on an extended European chassis) was shown for the first time in Turin in 1972.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

Continue reading this article for free?

Images of this article

Source: