Sold - 1979 Lotus Esprit JPS, 16k original miles, designed by Giugiaro | FerrariChat

Sold 1979 Lotus Esprit JPS, 16k original miles, designed by Giugiaro

Discussion in 'Other Cars' started by rdwinelover, Nov 16, 2020.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. rdwinelover

    rdwinelover Formula Junior

    Feb 27, 2015
    489
    San Francisco
    Full Name:
    Jamie
    For sale is my 1979 Lotus Esprit JPS. 16,345 original miles, original paint, original interior, federal car # 007, Mario Andretti signed inside of the glove box, matching stamped window-glass all around, complete and mint tool kit. The car was built on 01/79 (1 of 50 for the US market, 1 of 150 for the world) to commemorate Mario's accomplishments in Formula 1. The car is located in San Francisco, California and is mint. It starts right up, drives really well, handles great on coastal Highway 1 and shifts smooth.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
    Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login

    I am asking $54,000 for the mid engine, 1980 pound, fiberglass body car.

    Detailed dropbox pictures are here:

    https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ez4scqr17ng6zcy/AACD0zOpfPO-aLYpNKUJVKo4a?dl=0

    Pictures 16 onward are when the car was detailed. At the end of the dropbox files is a recent video driving the car from this past month.

    Mechanics have been taken care of by a Factory Lotus Technician since my purchase in 2016.

    Barry Spencer of Spencer Motor Sports. More about Barry here: http://www.spencersmotorsports.com/about.html Barry Spencer, founder and owner of Spencer's Motorsports, has been involved with Lotus cars since 1978. He is a factory - trained Lotus technician who worked in the engineering department on the Lotus Essex Turbo Esprit. He also worked on the Turbo Esprit shown in the James Bond movie " For Your Eyes Only ". In 1981, Barry worked as a Lotus Technician and service manager in the largest Lotus dealership in the United States. In 1984, Barry opened Spencer's European Motor Company in Hayward, CA which was renamed to Spencer's Motorsports in 1999.

    I am happy to reply to emails, phone calls or private messages. Email is [email protected]

    Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  2. cnpapa24

    cnpapa24 F1 Rookie

    Jan 19, 2014
    3,629
    NOLA
    Full Name:
    Chris
    Fantastic car and very difficult, if not impossible to find a JPS car in this condition. Best of luck with the sale, though I think this would do great at auction.
     
  3. Flash G

    Flash G Three Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jun 24, 2006
    35,113
    Hollywood Hills
    Full Name:
    Christopher
    Wow! Beautiful.
     
  4. GuyIncognito

    GuyIncognito Nine Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 30, 2007
    91,691
    do it.

    :)
     
    jjmalez and Flash G like this.
  5. Flash G

    Flash G Three Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jun 24, 2006
    35,113
    Hollywood Hills
    Full Name:
    Christopher
    Man... so tempting. I have a four British car limit at one time. Trying to insulate my wallet.
     
    Ak Jim and GuyIncognito like this.
  6. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 4, 2001
    35,280
    Birmingham, AL
    Full Name:
    Tommy
    There is a guy over in Atlanta that has Andretti's that was given to him by the factory that year. I thought this was it at first. Andretti was here at Barber's a few years ago and he signed that one too.
     
    steved033 likes this.
  7. Mang

    Mang F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Jul 11, 2007
    5,911
    ta HO
    Full Name:
    Mike S.
    Stunner!
     
    ralfabco likes this.
  8. Bthesixthree

    Bthesixthree Formula Junior
    BANNED

    Dec 18, 2013
    332
    CA
    Full Name:
    B
  9. Jack-the-lad

    Jack-the-lad Six Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 22, 2004
    69,043
    Moot Pointe
    Fantastic. I watched Mario win the Belgian GP in 1978, his championship year, in the fabulous JPS Lotus 79.

    Do you know if Barry Spencer is related to the late Bev Spencer, San Francisco’s original Ferrari dealer?
     
  10. rdwinelover

    rdwinelover Formula Junior

    Feb 27, 2015
    489
    San Francisco
    Full Name:
    Jamie
    I am not sure if there is a connection between Barry and Bev Spencer. I will ask Barry the next time we speak.

    Thanks for many of the kind posts.
     
  11. Innovativethinker

    Innovativethinker F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 8, 2009
    8,601
    So Cal
    Full Name:
    Mark Smith
    you can’t take it with you.

    sometimes you just have the say “what the heck”
     
    Flash G likes this.
  12. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
    Consultant

    Nov 29, 2001
    12,661
    San Carlos, CA
    Full Name:
    Mitchell Le
    I am ... itching ... for a Lotus Esprit...
     
    Flash G likes this.
  13. Meister

    Meister F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 27, 2001
    5,516
    Duluth, MN
    Full Name:
    The Meister
    An older attorney I know said he had one of these new back in the day. I never realized how rare the JPS was.
     
  14. Natkingcolebasket69

    Natkingcolebasket69 F1 World Champ

    Fantastic! How has maintenance been on it?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  15. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 4, 2001
    35,280
    Birmingham, AL
    Full Name:
    Tommy
    I always wanted one.

    I really did after that 5 seconds on screen in For Your Eyes Only. That burgundy color, skis on top and Turbo Esprit on the side did it for me at the age of 13 more than the little white submarine car a few years earlier.

    I need to get one, play with it for a year and sell it just to get it out of my system. Problem for me now is I have no where to put it.
     
  16. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 4, 2001
    35,280
    Birmingham, AL
    Full Name:
    Tommy
    A friend of mine here in town has a JPS Europa #1. The first one built. That is one of those cars he is taking to the grave with him
     
  17. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
    Consultant

    Nov 29, 2001
    12,661
    San Carlos, CA
    Full Name:
    Mitchell Le
    well, he is still NOT going to take it with him....
     
  18. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
    Consultant

    Nov 29, 2001
    12,661
    San Carlos, CA
    Full Name:
    Mitchell Le
    What does JPS stand for, by the way? Non-Lotus people want to know.
     
  19. absostone

    absostone F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Jul 28, 2008
    9,178
    John Player Special JPS
     
  20. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 4, 2001
    35,280
    Birmingham, AL
    Full Name:
    Tommy
    I think he is planning on being buried in it...
     
  21. rdwinelover

    rdwinelover Formula Junior

    Feb 27, 2015
    489
    San Francisco
    Full Name:
    Jamie
    John Player's sponsorship of Team Lotus began with the Lotus 49 in Gold Leaf colours in the 1968 Tasman Series. It continued with the Lotus 49 and Lots 72 in Formula One, changed to the black and gold John Player Special colours in 1972, and ended in 1986 with the Lotus 98T.

    John Player & Sons, most often known simply as Player's, was a tobacco and cigarette manufacturer based in Nottingham, England. In 1901, the company merged with other companies to form The Imperial Tobacco Company to face competition from US manufacturers.
     
  22. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
    Consultant

    Nov 29, 2001
    12,661
    San Carlos, CA
    Full Name:
    Mitchell Le
    Oh, I forgot about that Burgundy one in For Your Eyes Only. The one that blew up. I also need to get it out of my system. I came within a few thousand dollars of buying one in 1988.
     
    Dr Tommy Cosgrove likes this.
  23. DF1

    DF1 Two Time F1 World Champ

    Have owned multiple Esprit Turbo's, this car is superb. Possibly the best of the line in terms of color and no turbo. Pure normal aspiration. Best of luck to sale and to the new owner. Hopefully an owner willing to maintain at the current standard!
     
  24. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,143
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    Amazing....GLWS!
     
  25. FastLapp

    FastLapp F1 Rookie

    Mar 18, 2004
    2,962
    Rhode Island
    Full Name:
    James
    that's an awesome car. GLWS!
     

Share This Page