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.
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 Petersen. 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.
