James Bond Cars Collection – The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) is the 10th James Bond film and the third starring Roger Moore. Co-starring Barbara Bach and Curt Jürgens, it was directed by Lewis Gilbert with a screenplay by Christopher Wood and Richard Maibaum. While the title comes from Ian Fleming's novel, the plot is original, featuring the villain Karl Stromberg who plans to destroy the world and create a new civilization under the sea. Bond teams up with Russian agent Anya Amasova to stop him.

Filming took place across Egypt (Cairo and Luxor), Italy (Costa Smeralda, Sardinia), and The Bahamas for underwater sequences. Pinewood Studios built a massive supertanker set. The film was critically acclaimed, the Marvin Hamlisch soundtrack was successful, and it earned three Academy Award nominations. The novelisation was published in 1977 by Christopher Wood as James Bond, The Spy Who Loved Me.

Lotus Esprit S1

The Lotus Esprit S1, famously converted into a submarine for underwater sequences, became one of the most iconic James Bond vehicles. Nicknamed "Wet Nellie," it appears in a high-speed road chase before transforming to evade enemy fire. Elon Musk purchased the original "Wet Nellie" in September 2013. This vehicle exemplifies the 007 blend of innovation, style, and extreme action.

Leyland Sherpa Van

The first-generation Leyland Sherpa van appears near the Egyptian pyramids as Bond fights Jaws to retrieve a microfilm containing nuclear submarine information. Bond and Anya hide inside the van to escape, though it suffers damage from prior events. The Sherpa van exemplifies the practical, rugged vehicles often used by both heroes and villains in 007 films.

Kawasaki Z900 Motorcycle

The Kawasaki Z900 motorcycle appears during a high-speed chase as Jaws pursues Bond and Anya, who are escaping in the Lotus Esprit along Sardinia’s coastal roads. The Z900 adds dynamic action and tension, highlighting the versatility of vehicles in James Bond's cinematic universe.

Further Reading

• The Most Famous Car Used by James Bond – Aston Martin DB5
• James Bond Cars Collection – Die Another Day
• James Bond Cars Collection – GoldenEye & The World Is Not Enough