1976 Lotus Type 77

No. 77/3 (JPS-14)

Checkered Past Racing: 1976 Lotus 77 at BlackhawkCheckered Past Racing's Chris Locke poses with Chekered Past Racing's 1976 Lotus 77 at The Goodwood Festival of SpeedCheckered Past Racing: 1976 Lotus 77 at Sonoma RacewayCheckered Past Racing's Chris Locke prepares to qualify the 1976 Lotus 77 at Monaco with the help of Classic Team LotusCheckered Past Racing's Chris Locke races the 1976 Lotus 77 at MonacoCheckered Past Racing's Chris Locke prepares to demonstrate the 1976 Lotus 77 for the filming of the movie RushClassic Team Lotus wheels Checkered Past Racing's 1976 Lotus 77 to the grid at MonacoCheckered Past Racing's Chris Locke jubilant after a brilliant run in the 1976 Lotus 77 at Monaco

Specifications:

Manufacturers No. 77/3
Chassis No. JPS-14

Bodywork: Fiberglass and aluminum
Chassis:Aluminum monocoque
Suspension: 
Front: Upper lever arms, lower wishbones, inboard shocks/coil springs.
Rear: Single lower and double parallel top links, twin radius rods, outboard shocks/coil springs.
Curb weight: 1270 pounds
Length: 173-1/2 inches
Width: 80 inches
Height: 36 inches

Engine: Ford Cosworth DFV
Displacement:2993 cc
Carburetion:Lucas fuel injection
Horsepower: 475 at 10,500 rpm

Brakes:Lockheed 11-1/2 inch disc
Tires: Avon Racing, 9.00-13 (front), 16.00-13 rear (slick)
Gearbox:Hewland FG 400
Final Drive Ratio: Variable

Performance: 
0-60 mph: 2.5 seconds (est.) 
Top Speed: 190 mph


History:

Lotus 77 Formula One No. 77/3 (JPS-14) was driven by Mario Andretti during the 1976 Grand Prix season, his first year driving for Team Lotus.

Lotus 77/3, along with the other two Lotus 77s constructed and raced by Team Lotus during the 1976 season, were used for testing chassis configurations and aerodynamic innovations, including side pod design. That testing and innovation is credited by Andretti as leading to Lotus’ development of ground effects in the Lotus 78 the following year. The ground effects design was perfected in the Lotus 79 that Andretti drove to the World Championship in 1978.

Andretti drove Lotus 77/3 in the Austrian Grand Prix (5th), German Grand Prix (12th), and Italian Grand Prix (DNF). The car was also driven by Andretti in qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix (5th), French Grand Prix (7th), Italian Grand Prix (13th), in practice for the Grand Prix of Germany, Austria, Holland and the United States, and in testing throughout the season. It was also driven by Gunnar Nilsson in qualifying for the British Grand Prix (13th). Andretti won the 1976 Japanese Grand Prix in Lotus 77/1, a race that Andretti considers one of the greatest drives of his career.

Following the 1976 season, Team Lotus sold Lotus 77/3 to broker Bob Howlings who in turn sold it to the late James Wallis of the Otford Group. Mr. Wallis sold the car to Ashton Marshall, who imported it to the United States and sold it to David Livingston of Seattle, Washington, in September 1988. Mr. Livingston restored 77/3 for historic Formula One events and raced the car at venues in United States and Canada, including the Monterey Historic Automobile Races, and numerous events sanctioned by the Historic Grand Prix group.

Mr. Livingston sold the car to the present owner, Chris Locke of San Anselmo, California in August 2004. Since then, Chris has driven 77/3 at the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique and the Goodwood Festival of Speed, with Grand Prix Masters and Historic Formula One at the French Grand Prix at Magny Cours, the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, Brands Hatch, the Silverstone Classic, Donington Park, Nurburgring and the Six Hours of Spa, with Thoroughbred Grand Prix at Donington, the Monterey Historic Motorsports Reunion, and at Historic Grand Prix events at Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Watkins Glen, Road America and Sonoma/Sears Point, among other venues. The car is also featured in the motion pictures Iron Man 2 (2010) and Rush (2013).

The car is prepared and maintained by Classic Team Lotus Ltd., Hethel, Norfolk, John Anderson Racing, Sonoma, California, and Phil Reilly & Company, Corte Madera, California. Classic Team Lotus’ preparation has included engineering and fabrication by Bob Dance of the original Team Lotus Formula One crew, and repainting by Paul Banham, the original sign writer of the John Player Special Formula One cars.



With many thanks to Kyle Burt, Allen Rosenberg, and Peter Darley for these amazing photographs!

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