The Swedish auction house Bonhams is set to auction off James Bond’s Lotus Esprit from the 1977 film The Spy Who Loved Me.  The Lotus will be sold by the international auctioneers on December 1 at its annual motoring sale at Olympia, in West London, and is expected to go for around £100,000-120,000.

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The Lotus Esprit in 1977's The Spy Who Loved Me

According to a press release issued by Bonhams, With the global release of the new movie Quantum of Solace putting Ian Fleming’s legendary British secret agent James Bond firmly back in the public eye, Bonhams is delighted to announce that it has one of 007’s classic sports cars for sale.

The white 1976 Lotus Esprit from the 1977 film The Spy Who Loved Me, starring Roger Moore and Barbara Bach, will be sold by the international auctioneers on 1 December at its annual motoring Sale at Olympia, in West London. The car is expected to fetch £100,000-120,000.

The vehicle is one of two Lotus cars driven in the film by Roger Moore’s James Bond character. It turns into an amphibious car for the movie, driven both on land and underwater.

Also for sale, is the registration number ‘AU1’, used in another James Bond film Goldfinger. The first registration issued in Nottingham in 1903, this number was fitted to the Rolls-Royce Phantom III used by arch villain Goldfinger in the legendary film of the same name, since AU is the chemical symbol for gold in the Periodic Table. It is expected to fetch in excess of £80,000.

To discuss this story and all the latest James Bond news with 007 fans from around the world, please visit the MI6 Debriefing Room

Click here to see the Daniel Craig Sony HDTV Ad

If it’s not in the movie but it still uses Daniel Craig and the title Quantum of Solace to sell a product, is it product placement? Either way, Sony has just released a new minute long TV commercial for their HD TVs featuring Daniel Craig dodging a series of HD explosions.

The ad, which was directed by Baillie Walsh, premired on October 15 before a England football match on Setanta in the UK.

Personally, I think it’s quite boring and in no way makes me excited for Quantum of Solace OR going out and buying an HDTV. But that’s just me.

Click here to view the ad featuring Daniel Craig avoiding explosions in an effort to sell Sony HDTVs.

To discuss this story and all the latest James Bond news with 007 fans from around the world, please visit the MI6 Debriefing Room

The Best of Bond

Universal Exports has the details of an exciting new Bond theme music compilation CD by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The album, which is set for release on October 27, 2008, celebrates the iconic theme music and classic songs of numerous James Bond films, including Goldfinger, Licence to Kill, From Russia With Love and Tomorrow Never Dies. The album contains tracks spanning 45 years of the ultimate James Bond films, from Dr No in 1962 to Casino Royale in 2007.

Track Listing:

1. The James Bond Theme from Dr No (1962) – 2.40

2. Diamonds Are Forever (1971) – 2.41

3. Thunderball (1965) – 2.31

4. Goldfinger (1964) – 2.44

5. Dawn Raid On Fort Knox from Goldfinger (1964) – 3.34

6. A View To A Kill (1985) – 3.23

7. The Man With The Golden Gun (1974) – 2.31

8. Nobody Does It Better from The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) – 3.31

9. From Russia With Love (1963) – 2.46

10. Licence To Kill (1989) – 5.38

11. For Your Eyes Only (1981) – 3.13

12. The Journey To Atlantis from The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) – 5.06

13. Live And Let Die (1973) – 2.50

14. You Only Live Twice (1967) – 2.46

15. You Know My Name from Casino Royale (2006) – 3.40

16. Surrender from Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) – 2.59

Total Running Time: 52.39

Recorded at: Angel Studios, Islington, London on 15th and 16th July 2008.

CD Price: £8

The CD is currently available for preorder directly from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra