Think Lotus Esprit, think the white submarine in the 007 film ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’.

But Bond is not the only name associated with the Lotus Esprit. The wedge-shaped car that was the star of two 007 films listed among its famous owners the Prince of Wales (now King Charles III), Price Michael of Kent, Elon Musk and was the vehicle of choice of the characters of Pretty Woman’s Richard Gere and Julia Roberts.

In the case of the example shown here, now based in Perth, it has another link to royalty after being the centrepiece to the 1985 Scottish Motor Show, opened by Her Majesty The Queen on November 27.

Lotus unveiled the Esprit, designed by Italian legend Giorgio Giugiaro at Earls Court Motor Show in London at the end of 1975. It impressed a lot of people – including 007 film producer Albert R. Broccoli who saw an early example parked mysteriously right outside Pinewood Studios in London.

No mystery: The car had been put there by Lotus PR man Don McLaughlan who had heard about the upcoming Bond movie ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’ and wanted to make the car available for a role in the film.

Broccoli was impressed even further, signing aboard Lotus for the 007 movie and into history as the underwater car that delighted Bond fans and probably drove the car’s developer — actually six cars — to wit’s end. In 1981, Lotus continued its association with 007 with the Esprit Turbo (introduced in 1980) in ‘For Your Eyes Only’.That car (well, a model) was blown up as part of the film.

Lotus made the Esprit Turbo in other colours – there are four in Perth with this the only white car – but white has stuck as the most desirable choice.

This car, which is definitely not for sale, has just completed a full service at Colin Bonney’s Paradise Garage.

The work included Colin custom designing and installing an air conditioning system to counter the car’s huge glass areas and WA’s harsh summer heat. This involved a bespoke aluminium radiator and additional thermo-fans to keep the cabin cool and the engine temperature gauge needle in the centre of the dial.

To drive, the sensation of the car is as dynamic as the door-stopper. Its turbocharger whistles gently as the engine comes on boost and the waste gate wheezes when the throttle is released, while the snick of the gearbox in its short-shift pattern adds to the car’s overt sports heritage.

The steering, with no power assistance, is firm at low speeds but beautifully weighed at speed while the tiny steering wheel slips easily through the hand and the laid-back driving pose confirms again that this car is all about going fast.

The owner will be impressed with the work Colin has done. The cabin is warm as occupants feel the heat through the sharply-angled windscreen and the plate of glass above their heads.

Air conditioning is the answer to a downfall of the glasshouse Esprit that lives in Perth, a long way from Roger Moore’s snow-covered ski resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo in northern Italy. — NEIL DOWLING