Cars fit for a spy — including one that’s a functioning boat — visit Hilton Head Island

Two of James Bond’s cars were spotted on Hilton Head Island on Sunday.

Well, they were close replicas.

James Strickland from Marietta, Ga., showed his 1976 Lotus Esprit and 1976 Lotus Esprit Marine — a functioning boat — at the Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival & Concours d’Elegance at Port Royal Plantation. The cars are based on the submarine car in the film “The Spy Who Loved Me.”

Complete with rocket launch buttons, revolving license plates and hydroplane fins, these are cars fit for a 007.

Strickland grew up watching the James Bond movies and identified with the protagonist, as they share a first name.

“There was no way I could ever be a ‘Jim’ after that,” he said.

Strickland has 15 cars altogether and drives all but one, he said. He has five Jaguars, six Loti and the rest are miscellaneous, he said. He enjoys the history surrounding his cars and used to work on them himself when he was younger. With no wife or kids, he hasn’t had anyone telling him to spend less time on his cars, he said with a grin.

This story was originally published November 6, 2016 at 5:51 PM with the headline "Cars fit for a spy — including one that’s a functioning boat — visit Hilton Head Island."