JPS Commemorative Esprit
On-line Register
An ad for the JPS cars from 1978

Mario Andretti and Colin Chapman pose with a formula 1 car and a JPS Commemorative Esprit.

Colin Chapman (owner and founder of Lotus Cars) had a long-term sponsorship relationship with the John Players Special cigarette company. The relationship worked so well that "Team Lotus" was the most successful team in Formula one racing for its time. It still ranks near the top in most of the all-time records even though it has not raced in many years. The distinctive black and gold colours of the JPS sponsored Lotus cars is reflected in both the commemorative Esprit and the earlier JPS Europa.

So how many JPS Commemorative Edition cars were actually built? It is "common knowledge" that there were to be 100 for the UK market, 100 for the US/Canada market and 100 for the Rest Of the World market. It seems clear that these production figures were never achieved and that approximately half the 300 planed were actually built. One opinion is shown on this document from Andrew Ferguson where he reports that a total of 185 were built. On the other hand the Esprit book written by Walton states that there were 94 British cars, 26 US cars (10 of the US cars were calif. spec emissions ), and 27 for the "ROW"...rest of world....for 147 total. Lotus told Walton that the first commemorative JPS Esprit was completed by 13 December 1978 as unit number 78120550G. The last was ready on 27th July 1979; unit number: 79070278J.

Another opinion about the number of JPS Esprits produced can be seen in this letter from from Steve Lacey of Lotus Cars to Mr. Parkinson in Nov 1989. Steve claims only a total of 123 JPS Esprits were built - 92 Domestic, 13 ROW, 10 Federal and 8 California cars.

If you know of any JPS Esprit owners please make them aware of our register so we can list as many of the JPS Esprits as possible on this register. The policy of the register is to display e-mail addresses for those who wish it. To ensure privacy, other contact details will not be released to the public. To contact any of the individuals on the register simply e-mail me at:mailto:[email protected]and I will ask them to contact you.

Apart from myself there is a growing list of known JPS Esprit owners. This register is designed to identify those owners so we can provide one another with mutual support. (Where do you get replacement World Champion badges anyway?)

The lastest known owners of commemorative cars are:

(to see the details of each car - if available - click on the car spec and number)

 

 

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owner	car spec and #		e-mail address
	Federal cars
Mario Andretti	Federal # 001		the Andretti family web site
James Strickland	Federal # 002		[email protected]
Alexandre Emond	Federal # 003		[email protected]
Andy Wayne	Federal # 004		[email protected]
Ed Biggie	Federal # 006		[email protected]
Will Granger	Federal # 007		[email protected]
N/A	Federal # 009 (destroyed)		N/A
Roo	Federal # 010		[email protected]
Lloyd	Federal # 014		N/A
Ray Tobey	Federal # 017		http://www.bionictoad.com/lotus/
Name??	Federal # 018 (for sale)		905-686-4055 (Toronto area)
John Ridley	Federal # 019		e-mail address ?
Steve Frey	Federal # 020		Vallejo CA
Jon Isherwood	Federal # 023		[email protected]
Bill Galbraith	Federal # 024		[email protected]
Andrew Bobro	Federal # 027		[email protected]
Name??	Federal # 028 (for sale)		[email protected]
Name??	Federal # 029 (for sale)		http://www.traderonline.com/
Frank Pusateri	Federal # 031		[email protected]
Name??	Federal # 035 (for sale)		[email protected]
Bruce	Federal # 036		[email protected]
Chuck??	Federal # 039		e-mail address ?
Rich and Peg Flowers	Federal # 040		[email protected]
Trevor Knowles	Federal # 042 (for sale)		[email protected]
Phil Mitchell	Federal # 044		[email protected]
Tony Vaccaro	Federal # 045		[email protected]
Jim Jones	Federal # 046		[email protected]
Art Mason	Federal # 047		[email protected]
Phil Mitchell	Federal # 049 (for Sale)		[email protected]
Wayne ?	Federal # 053 (for Sale)		[email protected]
David Fitch	Federal # 055		mailto:[email protected]%20
Raymond Robinson	Federal # 056		[email protected]
Raymond Robinson	Federal # 091 (for sale)</		ebay
Ed Biggie	Federal # 0100		[email protected]
	Domestic cars
Jerry (once Nigel Mansell's)	JPS Turbo		[email protected]
Paul Phillips	Domestic # 002		e-mail address ?
Name??	Domestic # 003		e-mail address ?
Chris Barrett	Domestic # 004		[email protected]
Nick Warren	Domestic # 005		mailto:caron@[email protected]
David Harrison	Domestic # 006		[email protected]
Geoff & Pauline Harrison	Domestic # 007		[email protected]
Lloyd Jackson	Domestic # 009		[email protected]
John Keers (searching for current owner)	Domestic # 010		[email protected]
Martin Andre	Domestic # 013		e-mail address ?
Brian Walley	Domestic # 018		[email protected]
Sandra Rossi	Domestic # 019		e-mail address ?
Colin Finch	Domestic # 020		e-mail address ?
Graham Harrison	Domestic # 021		[email protected]
Name??	Domestic # 022		e-mail address ?
Nigel Carter	Domestic # 023		e-mail address ?
Gary Breadner	Domestic 024		[email protected]
Rosalie and Quirin van Aspert	Domestic 025		[email protected]
Barry Wayne	Domestic # 028 (sold)		[email protected]
Peter Folprecht	Domestic # 029		[email protected]
Ian Munro	Domestic # 032		[email protected]
Brian Hammersley	Domestic # 033		[email protected]
K. E. Plowman	Domestic # 034 (for sale)		Tel: 01527 403136 (UK)
Timothy Hart	Domestic # 035		e-mail address ?
C. Ratwell	Domestic # 037		e-mail address ?
M. Taggard	Domestic # 040		e-mail address ?
Graham Capel	Domestic # 044		[email protected]
Alfred Moreton	Domestic # 044 (for sale)		[email protected]
D. C. Thompson	Domestic # 047		e-mail address ?
Name??	Domestic # 048		e-mail address ?
Jeremy Carson	Domestic # 061 (for sale)		listed in Club Lotus
Jonathan Chapman	Domestic # 063		[email protected]
Liam Fahy	Domestic # 064		[email protected]
Paul Grant-Reason	Domestic # 065		[email protected]
Mark Jarrold	Domestic # 066		[email protected]
I. McDonald	Domestic # 068		e-mail address ?
Charles Willment	Domestic # 070		[email protected]
Fred Nally	Domestic # 072		[email protected]
D. Campbell	Domestic # 073		e-mail address ?
Name??	Domestic # 077		e-mail address ?
Name??	Domestic # 079 (for sale)		Coys auction
Richard Burgoine	Domestic # 082		[email protected]
Pavitraj Pandher	Domestic # 083		[email protected]
Peter Ritson	Domestic # 085		[email protected]
Name??	Domestic # 086 (for sale)		Tel: 01754 880687 (UK)
Name??	Domestic # 087		e-mail address ?
Paulette Appleby	Domestic # 089		[email protected]
Name??	Domestic # 092		e-mail address ?
Name??	Domestic # 094		[email protected]
David Parkinson	Domestic # 095		e-mail address ?
Steve Simmonds	Domestic # 096 (for sale)		listed on e-bay Mar 2006
dominique Hilarion	Domestic # 098		[email protected]
David Noble	Domestic # 099		[email protected]
Stewart Milne	non-commem		[email protected]
	Rest of World cars
Romaric Croisile	ROW # 001		http://kobekcp.blog110.fc2.com/blog-entry-291.html
Romaric Croisile	ROW # 007		[email protected]
Rescue Me Please!	ROW # 010
Pierre-Alain Gaillard	ROW # 012		[email protected]
Emmanuelle Barideau	ROW # 017		mailto:[email protected]%20
Name??	ROW # 020
Name??	ROW # 021		https://minkara.carview.co.jp/userid/457961/blog/24453675/
Name??	ROW # 023		Located in Japan - 1998
Ian Peters	ROW # 025		[email protected]
Franky	ROW # 027		[email protected]
Ukinori.U	ROW # 069		[email protected]
Name??	ROW # ???		Located in Sydney Australia

Some vintage racers still flying the JPS colours.

This is an appeal for assistance. In 1978 Mario Andretti was Formula One World Champion. In April 1979 Lotus presented him with a 1979 Lotus Esprit before the Long Beach Grand Prix for being champion. This presentation was covered by various members of the press and we understand photos and an article on the event were printed in at least one automotive periodical. We understand copies of the photos and the article were offered for sale on E-bay recently. The JPS Register is willing to pay a resonable finder's fee for someone who can provide us with original copies (see oxymoron collection) of these items. Thanks for your assistance.

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