For those Spy Vibers who grew up playing with James Bond Corgi toys, a recent auction of an original prop would have been a childhood dream come true. RM Auctions in London just sold the famous submarine Lotus from The Spy Who Loved Me (1977). This ultimate gadget car was described as "fully functional" and can be driven under water as a wet submarine, which means that the cabin fills with water when submerged. A real Lotus with wheels was used for the street scenes in the film. You could have picked up this beauty for a cool $968,000.00. More details and images at CNet here. I have an anniversary Corgi Lotus with Jaws figure for sale on eBay here.
Get ready to meet MIKI ZERO, Japanese fashion model and spy! The creator of Spy Vibe has written a novel called Elevator Girl, inspired by his love of Ian Fleming and based on newly declassified intel from the Cold War. More info at Whiton's website here. Recent Spy Vibe posts: Peter Asher, new Hercule Poirot novel, Beatles fall 2013 releases, A Hard Days Night cinematographer dies, Magic Christian on Blu-ray, Early Beatles image archive, Julie Newmar, Erno Goldfinger, Hitchcock tribute, Ian Fleming memorial, Emma Peel Megaset returns, Bo Diddley here.
Recent Ian Fleming posts on Spy Vibe: Erno Goldfinger, Ian Fleming Music Series links: Noel Coward, Whispering Jack Smith, Hawaiian Guitar, Joe Fingers Carr, new Ian Fleming Catalog, Jon Gilbert interview, Double 007 Designs, Bond audio book reissues, discovery of one of Ian Fleming's WWII Commandos, James Bond book covers, Ian Fleming's Playboy interview for Kindle, Spy Vibe's discovery of a rare Ian Fleming serialization, rare View to a Kill, Fleming's Royal gold typewriter, Ian Fleming's memorial address
Have you ever wanted to live in your own secret mountainside submarine hideout? Do you take interior design tips from Karl Stromberg, James Bond villain from The Spy Who Loved Me? If so, then this is the deal you have been praying for. The photos below are not set designs by Sir Ken Adam, but real estate shots from the nation of Norway, which has just listed one of their secret sub bases on the market!
Details from i09: "Norway is selling its NATO-funded secret submarine hideout, officially titled the Olavsvern Naval Base. Located off the Northern Coast, the whole unit (which includes a sub docking station, elaborate Austin Powers-like tunnel systems and office space) for only $17.5 million. The above ground property is a sprawling 38,000 square feet and houses office buildings, residential suites, a workshop and a warehouse. But the real meat is located inside the side of the mountain. The sub base houses a dry dock (so you can take in your subs) an emergency power system, the previously mentioned tunnels and fuel cells. The base was used during the Cold War by American submarines that were on assignment in the Arctic Ocean. But according to TV2 Olavsvern has been reduced to a supply base."
If you don't have your own submarine yet, I suggest picking up the amphibious super-spy car we listed a few weeks ago here. And here's a great idea from our Agent Marco: Spy Vibers from around the world combine forces in a Kickstarter campaign to buy the base. Once it is ours (Mwaahahaha) we manage the property as a timeshare. Imagine, your next vacation or evil villain conference can be held in NATO-modern luxury!
