Lotus Esprit Turbo "James Bond"(1:18, AUTOart)
- Lotus Esprit Turbo "James Bond" (from 1982)
- AUTOart
- 1:18
- Showcase model / No engine
- resin
- white
- private sale
- 150,00 CHF
- Perfect mint condition
- Original packaging exists
- Not for sale
The Lotus Esprit Turbo S3 from 1981 as the inspiration
The inspiration for this miniature is the Lotus Esprit Turbo of the third Esprit generation (S3), which was built from 1981 and stayed in the lineup until 1987. The Lotus Esprit Turbo carried on the turbo version of the earlier Esprit S2, which was built from 1978 to 1980. Its trademark features were the wedge-shaped fiberglass body, the central steel chassis, and the engine mounted lengthwise behind the seats. The basic shape of the Esprit was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro at Italdesign; the car’s technical concept was overseen by Lotus founder and engineer Colin Chapman. The Lotus Esprit Turbo used a 2.2-liter inline-four with two overhead camshafts and a Garrett turbocharger. Depending on the market and version, it made around 210 hp; top speed was about 245 kilometers per hour (152.2 mph). The suspension used double wishbones up front and a rear layout with control arms and coil springs, while disc brakes at all four wheels handled stopping. For historical context around the first model year, 1980: that was the year the Iran-Iraq War began, the Solidarność union was formed in Poland, and the arcade game Pac-Man hit the market. These examples make it easier to place the car in time and understand its era.
James Bond connection of the white Turbo Esprit look
The white paint finish with red pinstripes and the side script “turbo esprit” clearly nods to the car appearance from James Bond 007 - For Your Eyes Only from 1981. In the film, British MI6 agent James Bond, played by Roger Moore, first uses a white Lotus Esprit Turbo. Bond drives it together with Melina Havelock, played by Carole Bouquet, to an estate in Spain. In the film, Melina is the daughter of a murdered marine archaeologist and is out to track down those responsible; Bond helps her in the service of British intelligence. When one of the enemies opens the car, the self-destruct system is triggered and the vehicle explodes. Later, Bond uses a copper-colored Turbo Esprit for the chase scenes in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Marcello’s model therefore looks like a version inspired by the white film car, without any clear sign from the photos that it is an official movie-licensed item.
AUTOart 1/18 model car with resin body
The example from Modelly member “Marcello” is a 1/18 scale model car from AUTOart and is made of resin. The photos show a closed body with no visible opening hoods or doors; that kind of construction is typical for resin models, since it allows for very sharp body lines and cleanly defined panel edges. You can see the flat nose with pop-up headlight covers, the black bumper corners, the air intakes on the front hood, and the black slats over the rear engine bay. The triangular side windows, black window frames, side mirrors, and the fuel cap on the C-pillar are also included. The overall look feels spot on thanks to the low roofline, long rear section, and clear black contrast areas; especially from the side, the wedge-shaped concept really comes through. The white base color is paired with red stripes running along the sills, fenders, and front spoiler. On the doors and rear quarter panels, there are red and gray Turbo Esprit decals, while another matching emblem sits on the front hood.
BBS cross-spoke wheels and details of the collector miniature
The wheels also point to the period-correct Lotus Esprit Turbo setup: the miniature wears gold-colored cross-spoke rims with polished-looking rim beds, styled after the well-known BBS wheels. BBS was founded in 1970 in Schiltach in the Black Forest; the company name comes from Baumgartner, Brand, and Schiltach. It’s not possible to identify the exact wheel model just from the photos. The tires have white Goodyear lettering, which stands out nicely against the black sidewalls. The front and rear wheel depths are visibly different, which highlights the wider rear track of the sports car. On top of that, there are orange side indicators, black door handles, a detailed interior with seats, dashboard, and steering wheel, and red tail lights at the angular rear. So Marcello’s car is a 1/18 scale model car from AUTOart that captures the key features of the Turbo Esprit look, including the film-inspired color scheme, in a collector-focused presentation.
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