THE RACE RETRO COLLECTORS’ & COMPETITION CAR SALE 23rd & 24th February 2024

Race Retro Competition Car Sale 2024 Cars 150 Lot 968 1979 Lotus Esprit S2 JPS (#61/100) Registration: FBC 199T Chassis No.: 79020641G Estimate: £35,000 - £40,000 Specialist: Lionel Abbott Telephone No: 07831 574381 Technically called the World Championship Commemorative Model, but more colloquially known as the John Player Special, this was the first and arguably the most memorable limited-edition Esprit from Lotus. Dubbed the JPS due to its distinctive black and gold livery, inspired by the ground effect, JPS-sponsored, championship-winning Lotus 79 cars of the period, as raced by Mario Andretti and Ronnie Petersen. Originally planned to build 200 examples, it was believed that just 185 were produced, 100 for the UK, 55 for the United States and 30 for Europe. The eye-catching specification included gold-coloured side stripes complete with World Champion lettering, gold-coloured front and rear windscreen surrounds and alloy wheels, gold-effect corduroy seat inserts and a 3-spoke leather-rimmed steering wheel instead of the normal plastic offering. The ‘Juke Box’ installed was a Hitachi Digi-One radio-cassette. The 1,973cc 16-valve DOHC engine delivered a feisty 160bhp which was sufficient to sprint the 1,980lb fibreglass-bodied two- seater to 60mph in 6.8 seconds and on to a top speed of 124mph. The short production run lasted from December 1978 to July 1979. This nicely original limited edition JPS Esprit, with just 26,235 miles from new, has formed part our vendor’s Lotus-themed collection for nearly 15 years. The Lotus Cars Records correspondence states that it was #61 of 100 right-hand drive UK cars produced in early 1979 and our particular example rolled off the line on 20th February 1979 prior to being sold through the London Lotus Centre in Chelsea. The comprehensive history file contains a good timeline of its history and multiple recent invoices from marque specialists for services, a new exhaust, cam belt changes and most recently a fuel pump. The file also contains copies of various press articles and a copy of Motorsport Magazine featuring this car in an advert promoting Omologato Watches. This original JPS Esprit is truly worthy of any collection of rare Lotus cars or, better still, is to be enjoyed with the handling and performance that disgraced supercars of the day and the undoubted cachet of that distinctive Formula 1 World Championship-winning livery. Well presented and remarkably original, Number 61 of the 100 UK examples of the JPS Lotus Esprit S2 has covered just 26,235 miles from new More Details Lot 968 Bid On Lot 968