James Bond Submarine Up For Auction
James Bond collector’s take notice. The submarine from the 007 film The Spy Who Loved Me is up for auction by Heritage Auction Galleries. A prototype of the “Shark Hunter II” mini-sub, it was produced by Perry Oceanographics.
The full description follows:
“The Spy Who Loved Me” Submarine. This functional submersible was used in the 1977 James Bond thriller “The Spy Who Loved Me.” A prototype for the “Shark Hunter II” series produced by Perry Oceanographics, this mini-sub was designed for transporting personnel, conducting underwater surveys, and to serve as a recreational vehicle. Representatives from Pinewood Studios visited the builder to negotiate the propulsion and ballast for the submersible Lotus Esprit used in the movie, when they caught a glimpse of the Shark Hunter hull. So enamored were they with it, that the script was rewritten to include the sub in an astounding underwater chase scene. Features include an aluminum and fiberglass hull, brushless electric motor, and stainless steel aircraft control cables. Maximum depth: 450 feet. Top speed: 3.5 kys. Battery duration: 5-6 hours. Range: 18-20 miles. Torpedoes: none (sorry). Yellow with black detailing, seats two, and is 15 feet in length. Includes wheeled transport trailer, a history of the sub from designer Richard Brown, and list of operational guidelines from previous owner Tom Kolodner. Estimate: $13,000 – up.
Heritage Auction Galleries
The aubmarine is under the ‘2006 April Music Memorabilia Auction #622’ auction name and has a current bid of $1300. At this point in time, 9 days remain for absentee bidding on this James Bond item. Full details including many different photographs of the submarine can be found at the Heritage Auction Galleries site.