Meet “Wet Nellie”: The James Bond Submarine Car

If you watched The Spy Who Loved Me, you probably remember the Lotus Esprit that turns into a submarine. That real movie prop, nicknamed Wet Nellie, is one of the most famous vehicles in Bond history.

The Story Behind It

Built for the 1977 film, Wet Nellie started as a Lotus Esprit S1 shell and was engineered into a working submersible by Perry Oceanographic in Florida. It wasn’t watertight inside, so the operator used scuba gear. It cost about $100,000 to create.

Only one functional underwater version was made. It used four electric motors, could move forward (not backward), and relied on a mirror system for visibility. Ex‑Navy SEAL Don Griffin piloted it during filming.

Why It Became Iconic

The dramatic car‑to‑sub transformation helped define Roger Moore’s Bond era with a sleek, tech‑heavy style. Fans loved that the scenes were created using real practical effects, not just visual tricks.

Where It Ended Up

After filming, Wet Nellie sat in storage until it resurfaced in 1989. In 2013, it was bought at auction by Elon Musk, who has talked about restoring it with modern electric‑submarine technology.

See Bond Cars in Orlando

While Wet Nellie is privately owned, the Orlando Auto Museum at Dezerland Park showcases a huge collection of film cars, rare classics, themed rooms, and pop‑culture vehicles. A Lotus Esprit is featured in the Bond section of the museum’s 2,000‑plus vehicle collection.

Plan Your Visit

If you love movie cars or automotive history, the Orlando Auto Museum is a must‑see. Explore the Bond collection and hundreds of other unique vehicles.

Discover it for yourself at Dezerland Park’s Orlando Auto Museum.