Rare Car Archive

Makes › Lotus United Kingdom › 79 · Coachbuilt · 1978

Lotus
79

Formula 1 car, 4 built in 1978

Still being researched: identification guide. Everything shown is checked against the cited sources. Know more? Send us a source.

Lotus 79 (Wikimedia Commons search)
Lotus 79 (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: ΣΙΓΜΑ · CC BY-SA 4.0
?ProductionNot yet verified
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
Not yet verified
Years
1978
Engine
V8, bolted to the rear of the chassis with the gearbox · 2,997 cc / 3.0 LFactory: 2,997 cc
Power
358 kW / 487 PSFactory: 480 hp · converted
Top speed
Not yet verified
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Colin Chapman and Peter Wright
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

The Lotus 79 (1978) was Lotus's full ground-effect Formula 1 car, with full-length sliding skirts and a clean underbody. It was the only proper ground-effect car of its season and helped Lotus win the 1978 constructors' championship.

How rare is it?

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

Model rarityNot yet assessed Production figure not yet verified.
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.

No production figures recorded yet.

History

Mario Andretti debuted the 79 at the Belgian Grand Prix, the sixth race of 1978, qualifying on pole and winning. Lotus won the constructors' title, and Andretti won the drivers' championship with Ronnie Peterson second in the standings.

Peterson destroyed his 79 in testing and raced a 78 at the Italian Grand Prix, where a starting incident led to a crash from which he died after surgery. Jean-Pierre Jarier replaced him. In 1979 the car was overtaken by the Ligier JS11 and the Williams FW07, and Lotus slipped down the field. Nigel Mansell tested a 79 at Paul Ricard in October 1979.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard 79.

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

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyFord-Cosworth DFV1 Independently researchedThe source writes DVF once; DFV is the engine named in the same paragraph. From an enthusiast source (level D) – not yet confirmed by the maker or a registry.
Engine codeNot yet verified
LayoutV8, bolted to the rear of the chassis with the gearbox1 Independently researchedFrom an enthusiast source (level D) – not yet confirmed by the maker or a registry.
Displacement 2,997 cc / 3.0 LFactory: 2,997 cc1 Independently researchedLevel D figure. Not checked against a level A/B source. From an enthusiast source (level D) – not yet confirmed by the maker or a registry.
Bore 92.5 mmFactory: 92.5 mm1 Independently researchedFrom an enthusiast source (level D) – not yet confirmed by the maker or a registry.
Stroke 55.5 mmFactory: 55.5 mm1 Independently researchedFrom an enthusiast source (level D) – not yet confirmed by the maker or a registry.
Compression ratioNot yet verified
Fuel systemNot yet verified
Power 358 kW / 487 PSFactory: 480 hp · converted1 Independently researchedSource states bhp. From an enthusiast source (level D) – not yet confirmed by the maker or a registry.
Power at 10,500 rpm1 Independently researchedFrom an enthusiast source (level D) – not yet confirmed by the maker or a registry.
TorqueNot yet verified

Transmission & drivetrain

ManufacturerHewland2 Independently researchedInferred from the gearbox maker named in the quote; treat as a reading of the quote.
GearboxNot yet verified
GearsNot yet verified
Driven wheelsNot yet verified

Chassis, body & dimensions

ChassisAluminium monocoque with arc-shaped scuttle2,1 Independently researched
Front suspensionLower wishbone, top rocker arm and inboard coil spring/damper units1 Independently researchedFrom an enthusiast source (level D) – not yet confirmed by the maker or a registry.
Rear suspensionDouble wishbones, coil spring/damper units and anti-roll bar1 Independently researchedFrom an enthusiast source (level D) – not yet confirmed by the maker or a registry.
BrakesFront discs mounted outboard; rear discs inboard on the gearbox cheek-plates1,2 Independently researchedFrom an enthusiast source (level D) – not yet confirmed by the maker or a registry.
SteeringNot yet verified
Body constructionNot yet verified
Wheelbase 2,740 mmFactory: 108 in · converted1 Independently researchedFrom an enthusiast source (level D) – not yet confirmed by the maker or a registry.
LengthNot yet verified
WidthNot yet verified
HeightNot yet verified
Front track 1,730 mmFactory: 68.1 in · converted1 Independently researchedFrom an enthusiast source (level D) – not yet confirmed by the maker or a registry.
Rear track 1,630 mmFactory: 64.2 in · converted1 Independently researchedFrom an enthusiast source (level D) – not yet confirmed by the maker or a registry.
Kerb weight 609.99 kgFactory: 1,344.8 lb · converted1 Independently researchedSource says only 'Weight'; dry or kerb basis not stated. From an enthusiast source (level D) – not yet confirmed by the maker or a registry.
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speedNot yet verified
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.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    Grand Prix Cars - Lotus-Ford 79 Level D ddavid.com
    • Ford Cosworth DFV engine/gearbox/rear suspension block
    • 2,997 cc
    • 92.5 X 55.5 mm
    • 480 bhp at 10,500 rpm
    • It had an aluminum monocoque chassis with arc-shaped scuttle
    • Front suspension was made up of lower wishbone, top rocker arm
    • Rear suspension consisted of double wishbones
    • Front disc brakes were mounted outboard, rear inboard, on gearbox's cheek-plates
    • 108 in
    • 68.1 in Front
    • 1344.8 lbs
    Accessed 2026-11-13
  2. 2
    The Last F1 Car to Carry an American to Victory Level C Marshall Pruett · Road & Track · 2018-12-31
    • had Hewland cast half of the calipers into the gearbox
    • ran alongside the aluminum monocoque
    • We had inboard brakes in the rear
    Accessed 2026-11-13

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