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The James Bond Car That Was Elon Musk's Inspiration For The Cybertruck
By BARNELL ANDERSON
The Cybertruck looks like something straight out of a science fiction film, leaving Tesla fans to wonder where exactly the inspiration for the design came from. Surprisingly, the EV truck’s style was inspired by a submarine car used in the 1977 James Bond film “The Spy Who Loved Me,” specifically a modified version of the Lotus Esprit.
There were said to be nine Lotus Esprits used for the film, but only one served as the submarine car, nicknamed “Wet Nellie.” The prop version actually functioned as a mini-submarine and had propellers installed as well as electric motors. While in use for underwater shots, Don Griffin, a retired Navy Seal, drove the car.
As it turns out, Elon Musk is a fan of the classic James Bond vehicle, which is why he dropped nearly $1 million to buy the prop and originally planned to have it updated with Tesla tech to make it functional. In light of that, it's no surprise the Cybertruck was inspired by the Lotus, and it’s easy to see the resemblance between the EV and “Wet Nellie.”