Rare Car Archive

Makes › Ligier France › JS2 · Rare production · 1971–1975 Extremely Rare

Ligier
JS2

Maserati V6 mid-engined GT.

Ligier JS2 (Wikimedia Commons: Ligier JS2)
Ligier JS2 (Wikimedia Commons: Ligier JS2)
Photo: MrWalkr · CC BY-SA 4.0
250BuiltIndependently researched
0Chassis documentedin this archive
?SurvivingNot yet verified
Contents
  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Production & history
  3. 03Specifications
  4. 04Colours & options
  5. 05Individual cars
  6. 06Reference

01Overview

At a glance

Built
250 Built
Years
1971–1975
Engine
Mid-mounted four-cam V6 (Maserati, ex-Citroën SM) · 2,675 cc / 2.7 LFactory: 2,675 cc
Power
125 kW / 170 PSFactory: 168 hp · converted
Top speed
246 km/hFactory: 246 km/h
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Tetu and Pietro Frua
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

The JS2 was Ligier's only series-built road sports car, a mid-engined French GT using the Maserati-developed V6 of the Citroën SM. It sits between Guy Ligier's racing career and the company's later Formula 1 and microcar eras.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Model rarityExtremely Rare 250 · Built1
Specification rarityNot yet assessed
Colour rarityNot yet assessed
Individual rarityNot yet assessed
Historical rarityNot yet assessed
Survival rarityNot yet assessed

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Photos

Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

What is countedFigureBasisStatus
Total model productionbuilt (about) 2501 Factory production Independently researched

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

Guy Ligier followed his Frua-designed JS1 with the JS2, first shown with a Ford V6 at the 1970 Paris Salon and in Citroën-Maserati-powered production form at the 1971 Salon. It used a steel and polyurethane backbone chassis and the SM's 2.7-litre V6, later enlarged to 3.0 litres. In 1974 Citroën agreed to sell and service the car through its dealers, but Citroën's collapse and merger with Peugeot, and the end of the Maserati V6, cut off engine supply and production stopped in 1975. Bonhams puts output at about 250 cars, while Hagerty reckons fewer than 100 were built.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard JS2.

No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine manufacturerMaserati2 Independently researched
Engine familyNot yet verified
Engine codeNot yet verified
LayoutMid-mounted four-cam V6 (Maserati, ex-Citroën SM)3,4 Independently researched
Displacement 2,675 cc / 2.7 LFactory: 2,675 cc3 Independently researched
Bore 91.6 mmFactory: 91.6 mm2 Independently researchedCarfolio data for the 2965 cc engine.
Stroke 75 mmFactory: 75 mm2 Independently researched
Compression ratioNot yet verified
ValvetrainDOHC per bank, 2 valves per cylinder2 Independently researched
Fuel systemNot yet verified
Power 125 kW / 170 PSFactory: 168 hp · converted3 Independently researchedSource states bhp.
Power at 6,500 rpm2 Independently researched
Torque 255 NmFactory: 255 Nm2 Independently researchedAutomobile Sportive (S1) gives 230 to 255 Nm depending on version.
Torque at 4,000 rpm2 Independently researched

Transmission & drivetrain

GearboxNot yet verified
Gears52,5 Independently researched
Driven wheelsRear-wheel drive (mid-engined)2 Independently researched

Chassis, body & dimensions

ChassisNot yet verified
Front suspensionNot yet verified
Rear suspensionNot yet verified
BrakesDiscs5 Independently researched
SteeringNot yet verified
Body constructionGlass-fibre-reinforced plastic body5 Independently researched
Wheelbase 2,350 mmFactory: 2,350 mm2 Independently researched
Length 4,250 mmFactory: 4,250 mm2 Independently researched
Width 1,720 mmFactory: 1,720 mm2 Independently researched
Height 1,151 mmFactory: 1,151 mm2 Independently researched
Front track 1,410 mmFactory: 1,410 mm2 Independently researched
Rear track 1,410 mmFactory: 1,410 mm2 Independently researched
Kerb weight 980 kgFactory: 980 kg2,5 Independently researched
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speed 246 km/hFactory: 246 km/h2 Independently researchedAutomobile Sportive gives 242 to 247 km/h.
0–100 km/hNot yet verified
Fuel tankNot yet verified

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

04Colours & options

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Factory options & codes

Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

05Individual cars

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

06Reference

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

The first Maserati-powered JS2 (shown at the October 1971 Paris Salon) used the 2670 cc Maserati V6 with the Citroen SM gearbox. From February 1973 the car took the larger V6 of the Maserati Merak. The last version, shown at Geneva in 1975, is recognisable by retractable headlights and five-nut wheels. The glass-fibre-reinforced bodywork was drawn by Pietro Frua and retouched by Pichon-Parat.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    1972 Ligier JS2 | Bonhams Level B
    • 250 built (about)
    Accessed 2026-11-11
  2. 2
    1972 Ligier JS2 specifications Level C Carfolio.com
    • Engine manufacturer Maserati
    • Bore x Stroke 91.6 x 75 mm
    • 91.6 x 75 mm
    • double overhead camshaft (DOHC) 2 valves per cylinder
    • 193 PS (190 bhp) at 6500 rpm
    • 255 Nm at 4000 rpm
    • 5 speed manual
    • mid mounted engine which transmits the power to the rear wheels
    • Wheelbase 2350 mm
    • Length 4250 mm
    • Width 1720 mm
    • Height 1151 mm
    • Track front 1410 mm
    • Track rear 1410 mm
    • Kerb weight 980 kg
    • Top speed 246 km/h
    Accessed 2026-11-13
  3. 3
    Cars That Time Forgot: Ligier JS2 Level C Richard Dredge · Hagerty UK · 2022-02-21
    • mid-engined coupé
    • 2675cc all-alloy V6, later 2965cc
    • 168bhp rising to 192bhp with 2965cc
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  4. 4
    Bonhams Cars : 1972 Ligier JS2 Chassis no. 24767203 Level B Bonhams · 2025-02-06
    • Maserati-developed four-cam V6 engine
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  5. 5
    Ligier JS2 (1971-1975) - Retro Level C Automobile Sportive · 2012-02-13
    • manuelle (5)
    • Freins Av-Ar: Disques
    • carrosserie en fibre de verre renforcée de résine synthétique
    • Données constructeur (kg): 980
    Accessed 2026-11-13

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