Lotus 79 (1978) Dutch GP - Peterson

Headed by founder Colin Chapman, the 79 was designed by the team at Lotus for the 1978 season. It was the first car to take full advantage of the ‘ground effects’ aerodynamics as pioneered in its immediate predecessor, the Lotus 78. The 79 is thought to have been the first F1 car designed using computer aids and the first to be analysed by pit computers on race weekends. It is also credited with pushing Formula 1 into the aerodynamics era, an influence still clearly seen today. Powered by a Ford Cosworth DFV engine that was housed at the rear of the car, the 79, also known as the John Player Special Mark IV or ‘Black Beauty’, was hailed for its stunning good looks.

Five chassis were built during its two-season lifespan, though 1978 remains the 78’s critical year, as it, driven by Mario Andretti and Ronnie Peterson, powered to a Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championship double. The Lotus 79 claimed six race wins, eight more podiums, ten pole positions and five fastest laps during its 26-race existence.

This is a 1:8 scale recreation of the Lotus 79 as raced by Ronnie Peterson at the 1978 Dutch Grand Prix. Peterson qualified on the front row, just behind his teammate Andretti. A relatively uneventful race belied stunning drives from the Lotus teammates and Peterson finished second by a tiny margin of 0.32 seconds. Sadly, this would be the last time Peterson would see the chequered flag, as he would be killed after an accident at the next race in Italy. Despite this, he would finish second in the Drivers’ Championship after a dominant year for Lotus.

This model has been handcrafted and finished in our workshops with the co-operation and assistance of Lotus regarding original finishes, materials, archive imagery and drawings. The use of supremely accurate digital scanning of the original car has allowed us to perfectly recreate every detail at scale. Furthermore, it has undergone detailed scrutiny by both Lotus's engineering and design teams to ensure complete accuracy of representation.

The Lotus 79 is limited to only 199 pieces.

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The Lotus 79 is also available as driven by 1978 World Champion Mario Andretti.

Discover Mario Andretti's Lotus 79 >