submitted by his son:
Jeff Griffin, Don's son: EMail: rigthis1 [at] yahoo DOT com
the
First Congregational church
2401 Sidonia, Port St. Lucie at 1100
hours
Next to Bond’s Aston Martin DB5, the submersible Lotus is regarded as one of the most iconic vehicles of the series. One of six Esprit body shells used in the movie, the vehicle was known as “Wet Nellie” by the movie's crew and is the one and only fully-operational, self-propelled underwater Lotus developed and engineered by Don Griffin at Perry Oceanographic in Florida for the film. In the dive sequences, the wheels are shown to fold up into the wheel wells, giving the impression of a sealed vehicle. The wheels are then replaced by dive planes out the sides while tail rudders and propeller drive units magically appear out the back end. After out-maneuvering Karl Stromburg’s evil minions, the Lotus emerges from the water with no sign of the bulky power units or rudders to be seen. Inline image While Roger Moore preened about on shore, retired US Navy Seal Don Griffin handled the underwater drive sequences in the Bahamas, using the right-hand drive vehicle's directional propellers and levered steering devices. But unlike the sealed, moisture free cockpit shown in the movie, the submersible Lotus wasn't watertight, requiring Griffin to use re-breather diving gear for the shoot.
Next to Bond’s Aston Martin DB5, the submersible Lotus is regarded as one of the most iconic vehicles of the series. One of six Esprit body shells used in the movie, the vehicle was known as “Wet Nellie” by the movie's crew and is the one and only fully-operational, self-propelled underwater Lotus developed and engineered by Don Griffin at Perry Oceanographic in Florida for the
film.
In the dive sequences, the wheels are shown to fold up into the wheel wells, giving the impression of a sealed vehicle. The wheels are then replaced by dive planes out the sides while tail rudders and propeller drive units magically appear out the back end. After out-maneuvering Karl Stromburg’s evil minions, the Lotus emerges from the water with no sign of the bulky power units or rudders to be seen.
While Roger Moore preened about on shore, retired US Navy Seal Don Griffin handled the underwater drive sequences in the Bahamas, using the right-hand drive vehicle's directional propellers and levered steering devices.
But unlike the sealed, moisture free cockpit shown in the movie, the submersible Lotus wasn't watertight, requiring Griffin to use re-breather diving gear for the shoot.
Jeff Griffin, Don's son:
EMail: rigthis1
[at] yahoo DOT com