One to Buy: 001 ex-Birmingham Motor Show 1978 Lotus Esprit S2 World Championship Commemorative Edition
Although in later years the Turbo generally stole all the headlines when it came anything Esprit, the normally aspirated variants with their fizzy engines and lightweight mid-engined delicacy were something very special back in the day.
Aside from the submersible S1 used by Roger Moore in the 1977 James Bond caper, The Spy Who Loved Me, arguably the most iconic of the ‘atmo’ Esprits was the S2 World Championship Commemorative JPS Edition launched to celebrate Lotus’s 1978 Formula 1 Driver and Constructor titles.
Like the F1 cars driven by Mario Andretti and Ronnie Peterson to first and second in that year’s Driver’s Championship (in doing so enabling Lotus to easily outscore closest rival Ferrari in the Constructor standings), these limited edition Esprits were painted the iconic John Player Special colours of black with gold highlights.
Loads of other special equipment was also bundled in and Lotus managed to sell 147 copies of the JPS Esprit, the first of which will be going under the hammer at Iconic Auctioneers’ Silverstone Historic Festival sale on August 23rd.
Chassis 78 100 491G was the very car displayed by Lotus at the Birmingham Motor Show in October 1978. It was then most likely used for other promotional purposes as the first private owner (Reuter’s Restaurant in Dublin) did not take acquisition until August 24th 1979 (via Ready Garage, also in Dublin).
JPS 001 subsequently made its way back to the UK in 1989 and was the subject of a six-year ground-up restoration, since which time just 1840 miles have been covered.
Reprinted below is Iconic Auctioneers’ description:
Make: LOTUS
Model: ESPRIT
Variant: Series 2 JPS
Registration Number: MDG 228V
MOT Expiry: 10/06/2026
Chassis Number: 78100491G
Engine Number: CC907780915417
SUMMARY
Confirmed by historic Lotus Cars Ltd correspondence as car #001 and displayed at the 1978 Earls Court Motor Show. Since restored and offered from long-term ownership.
DESCRIPTION
Launched at the Earls Court Motor Show in 1978 and officially called the 'World Championship Commemorative Model', but colloquially known as the John Player Special, later shortened to JPS, it was the first and arguably the most memorable limited edition Esprit from Lotus. They were all finished in a distinctive black and gold livery which echoed the look of the John Player Special-sponsored, championship-winning Lotus 79s of Mario Andretti and Ronnie Peterson.
Lotus planned to build 200 examples, but it's believed that just 185 were produced; 100 for the UK, 55 for the US and 30 for Europe.
The specification included gold-coloured side-stripes complete with World Championship lettering, gold-coloured front and rear windscreen surrounds and colour-coded alloy wheels.
The 1,973cc 16-valve DOHC engine delivered a feisty 160bhp which was sufficient to sprint the 1,980lbs glass fibre-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.
At the 1978 Motor Show, there was only one British sportscar manufacturer that displayed a World Championship winner and a similarly liveried, special edition model and we are delighted to offer that very road car.
As confirmed by a letter from Lotus Cars Ltd, dated 1st February 1993, chassis #78100491G, '…was the first World Championship Commemorative Esprit to be built and was also the show car at the Motor Show'.
Additional build records on file dated 12th January 1993 from Lotus Cars Ltd, confirm that chassis #78100491G was supplied by a Dublin dealer to the owner of the Reuter’s Restaurant of Westmoreland Street, Dublin on the 24th August 1979.
Interestingly, a 2017 entry by a Mr Caroll on an online forum about historic Dublin restaurants states that he remembers the Lotus outside the restaurant back in the day.
Sales information provided to our vendor confirms that the car was imported into the UK in 1989 by the previous owner and commenced an extensive six year restoration, after which the odometer was zeroed.
It was registered with the DVLA on 4th October 1995 and subsequently purchased by our vendor in 2006. The schedule of works prior to our vendor’s ownership can only be described as ground up' and we welcome inspection of the detailed file.
Used sparingly, but run up to temperature during brief but regular outings, the current odometer reading is 1,840 miles and the car will be freshly serviced and MOT tested prior to our auction. This historically important motorcar has a fabulous file that includes reams of receipts, a Series 2 handbook (once used as a coaster), two keys and the aforementioned Lotus Cars Ltd correspondence confirming its pedigree.
Whilst the most famous Lotus Esprit of all time entered the Sardinian waters with James Bond at the wheel and will likely never come to market, the other most recognisable Esprit, the JPS is very special and none more than car #001.
