Vintage Corgi 007 Lotus Esprit James Bond Diecast Car Made in Great Britain

Description: Vintage Corgi 007 Lotus Esprit James Bond Diecast Car Made in Great Britain. Item has wear and markings rolls fine COLLECTING 007 – UK CORGI Toys WRITTEN & COMPILED BY KEVIN HARPER Corgi 1977 & 1978 Catalogues Following the Diamonds Are Forever Moon Buggy and Ford Mustang Mach 1 toys, it would be another five years before CORGI released another new James Bond related model. The Aston Martin DB5 (CORGI #270) was still widely available and promoted in every catalogue issued in the early 1970s. As James Bond did not drive a gadget-laden car that could live up to the DB5 in either Live And Let Die (1973) or The Man With The Golden Gun (1974), CORGI did not issue any models to tie in with Roger Moore's first two 007 outings. CORGI did issue an Aerocar (E2009) in 1975 as part of their ‘Juniors’ range which looked very similar to the one driven and flown by Scaramanga in The Man With The Golden Gun, but this was not specifically linked to the film on any packaging or promotion for the toy. With the exception of the Aston Martin DB5 the film-related toys had a very short shelf-life and were usually withdrawn within a year of the film’s release. Corgi C269 Lotus Esprit prototypes ABOVE: (top) CORGI C269 - Marcel van Cleemput's brass prototype which shows the origins of the fin mechanism. The brass fins on the sides and back slide in and out and gives a fascinating insight into the construction of the final model. (left) 1st version - This prototype has a metal top and base, with clear windows, resin periscope, resin side and rear fins, the rear frame is made of plastic. (right) 2nd version - This prototype has a metal top and base, with clear windows, and contains the improved rocket firing and fins mechanism. With the announcement that Roger Moore would drive a new model of car in his third James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), CORGI announced a die-cast scale model of the white Lotus Esprit, which once again lent itself to the many gimmicks that could be incorporated into the toy to match its on-screen counterpart. Designed by Marcel van Cleemput, the Lotus featured on the cover of the 1977 CORGI catalogue, and again in 1978 when it was joined by the Stromberg Helicopter flown by Naomi (Caroline Munro) in the film, and another new edition of the iconic Aston Martin DB5. Corgi Lotus Esprit promotional material Heavily advertised in the lead up to its release, the CORGI Lotus Esprit joined several other new models issued in the year that celebrated the Silver Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. At the time The Spy Who Loved Me was showing in cinemas the country was already in the grip of national patriotism on a scale not seen since the end of World War II. The same feeling was captured again 35 years later with the release of Skyfall, which coincided with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic Games, hosted in London. The Spy Who Loved Me press screening/Corgi Lotus Esprit launch Corgi 269 Lotus Esprit The CORGI Lotus Esprit was launched at a special reception at the Pastoria Hotel, St. Martin's Street, London, following the press preview of The Spy Who Loved Me on the morning of Tuesday July 5, 1977. CORGI's Lotus Esprit designer Marcel van Cleemput and his wife Molly were invited to the preview screening at the ODEON Leicester Square. Samples of CORGI's Lotus Esprit were handed out after the screening housed in a red box, whereas the later retail packaging featured stills from the film. Two days later the Royal World Charity premiere of The Spy Who Loved Me was held at the ODEON with Princess Anne attending on behalf of the Royal Family, accompanied by Lord Mountbatten (1900-1979). Before the screening of the film Princess Anne was presented with a special 14-carat gold-plated version of CORGI's Lotus Esprit, one of only 10 copies made. Other gold-plated editions were presented to Roger Moore, and producer Albert R. Broccoli at the after-show party held at the Playboy Club.

Price: 99.99 USD

Location: Englewood, Colorado

End Time: 2025-01-21T09:46:24.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD