Competition vehicle Unregistered

Chassis no. 78/3

-      Genuine Team Lotus Works chassis from 1978

-      Built by Team Lotus as a tribute to Ronnie Peterson

-      The first ground effect F1 car in history

-      Only three owners from new

-      Iconic John Player Special racing colours

-      Exceptional documentation and traceability

-      Eligible for the most prestigious historic events

 

When he founded Team Lotus in 1958, Colin Chapman probably never imagined that his team would become one of the most influential in the history of motorsport. A visionary genius, Chapman revolutionised the design of racing cars several times, thanks to the innovations which would leave a lasting mark on Formula 1: the monocoque chassis, the engine as a load-bearing component, advanced aerodynamics or the obsessive pursuit of light weight.

In the mid-1970s, when its rivals seemed to have caught up with Lotus, Chapman and his team were working on an innovation which would disrupt the sport once and for all: ground effect.

Introduced in 1977, the Lotus 78 was the first F1 car to fully exploit this aerodynamic principle. Thanks to its side pods shaped like inverted aerofoils and the side skirts which effectively sealed the gap between the car and the ground, the car generated considerable downforce without a significant increase in drag. Immediately nicknamed ‘The Wing Car’, the Lotus 78 had a spectacular technological advantage over all its rivals.

Under its body lay one of the most tried-and-tested engines. Like nearly all the cars on the Formula 1 grid at the time, the Lotus 78 was powered by the legendary Ford Cosworth DFV engine, a naturally-aspirated V8 with a capacity of 2993 cc, producing about 480 bhp at over 10,000 rpm. With a five-speed Hewland gearbox and a weight of under 600 kg to meet the regulations, the car delivered exceptional performance for its time. Able to exceed 300 km/h depending on the track, the Lotus 78 was impressive above all for its cornering speeds, made possible by its revolutionary aerodynamics. Whereas its rivals had to find a compromise between downforce and top speed, the Lotus offered a level of grip hitherto unknown in Formula 1.

Apart from its revolutionary technical features, the Lotus 78 was also inextricably linked with one of the most iconic liveries in the history of motorsport. Arrayed in the famous black and gold colours of the cigarette company John Player Special, it epitomised the flamboyant appearance of Formula 1 in the 1970s. The low, aggressive shape of the Type 78, in its black livery with gold pinstriping, is one of the most iconic images from the golden age of Formula 1.

Driven by Mario Andretti and Gunnar Nilsson, the car won five Grands Prix during the 1977 season and enabled Lotus to return to the top. More than just a winning racing car, the Type 78 ushered in a new technological era, from which all the constructors quickly sought to find inspiration. For 1978, Lotus further developed the concept with the Type 79. The duo made up of Mario Andretti and Ronnie Peterson dominated the World Championship at the time. Andretti won the Drivers’ World Championship, while Team Lotus took the Constructors’ title. This historic season, which set the final seal on the superiority of the concept devised by Chapman, was, however, overshadowed by Peterson’s tragic accident during the Italian Grand Prix at Monza in September 1978.

The car offered for sale has a particularly remarkable and moving history. It was the fifth example of the Type 78 built by Team Lotus. After the 1978 season, the team still had an unused spare chassis. The decision was taken to build a complete new car starting from this original structure. The remains of Peterson’s car that had crashed at Monza had been destroyed, so out of respect for him, Team Lotus chose to reassign the identity 78/3 to this new car, as a tribute to the Swedish driver.

This point is crucial: this car’s chassis is a genuine Team Lotus Works reserve chassis, built in 1978. This authenticity gives it particular importance in the world of historic single-seat racing cars, since some prestigious events, such as the Grand Prix Historique in Monaco, require cars taking part to have an original chassis built in period.

Built by Team Lotus during the course of 1979, 78/3 was not intended for use in competition but to be kept as part of its heritage. It was displayed for several decades at the Team Lotus museum. This static use accounts for its remarkable original condition and the low mileage it has covered since it was built. In 2009, Classic Team Lotus completely restored the car, allowing it to be driven again on track, with the aim of taking part in demonstration runs rather than intensive use in competition. After this work, the car was sold to a major Japanese collector, who was fully aware of its history and provenance. Its current owner bought the car ten years ago and kept it like a historical statue, displayed without being driven as part of his collection. Like any F1 car of such importance, it will require recommissioning and specific preparation before it can take part in any historic events.

Sold with a particularly interesting set of documents, including correspondence with Clive Chapman, son of the legendary Colin Chapman and director of Classic Team Lotus, this Lotus 78/3 has an exceptionally well verified history, linking it directly to the works.

There are few cars indeed that embody to this extent a major turning point in the history of motorsport. A symbol of one of the greatest technological revolutions in Formula 1, linked to the golden age of Team Lotus, to its World Championship titles in 1978 and to the legendary drivers Mario Andretti and Ronnie Peterson, as well as to its unforgettable black and gold John Player Special racing colours, this Lotus 78 is one of the most iconic F1 cars ever built.

More than just a Formula 1 car, it is an authentic witness to one of the most fascinating and innovative periods in the history of the World Championship and would make a major addition to any collection devoted to the most important Grand Prix cars of the 20th century. This is an exceptionally rare opportunity to acquire not only a genuine Team Lotus car, but also one that changed the history of Formula 1 for ever.

Photos © Dennis Notten