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1978 Lotus Type 79 Formula 1 Race Car

From the very inception of Grand Prix racing, every successive year brought continual design changes in the cars themselves. Many of the innovations  failed miserably.Some achieved limited success. And others significantly changed the trend of Grand Prix racing-car design.

In 1968 a number of Grand Prix cars, notably Brabhams and Ferraris, appeared at the starting line with rudimentary wings attached by struts over their engine bays. The angle of the wings created an airflow that forced the vehicles' noses to the roadway with dramatically increased pressure. The greater the vehicle's speed, the greater the pressure—and hence, the better the tires' grip on the road surface. This was achieved without adding any extra weight.

So effective was the new design that by the end of 1969 many cars appeared with wings so unwieldy that they actually interfered with stability. Therefore, regulations limiting the size and construction of wings were put into effect. By the mid¬1970s the wings were an integral part of Grand Prix car design.

In 1976, while researching a replacement for the obsolete but well-loved Type 72, Lotus designers Colin Chapman, Peter Wright and Tony Rudd decided that the wing concept could be taken even further: that air traveling under the car could be harnessed just as effectively as air flowing over it. On this assumption they designed a new wing system. The Type 78 featured somewhat lengthened wings that were incorporated into a skirt system. Airflow under the wings could not escape at the sides and was, therefore, forced under and behind the vehicle. This moving air created an improved downdraft, resulting in even greater efficiency in the car's ability to grip the track—the so-called "ground effect." The new design's success was astonishing, and only mid¬season engine troubles prevented the Lotus from winning the World Championship.

Despite the success of the Type 78, 1977 had merely been a development year. For 1978 an improved version, designated the Type 79, was unveiled. As expected, the new Lotus dominated the circuit, winning the World Championship for Lotus, Mario Andretti and teammate Ronnie Peterson, and establishing a new era of design: that of "ground effect" race cars
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In addition to the remarkable aerodynamics, the Type 79 boasted other advantages. It was powered by a proven fuel-injected Cosworth-Ford DFV engine, a 2,993-cubic-centimeter, 90-degree V-8 that developed 480 horsepower. The popular Hewland FG400 five-speed transmission was used as a load-bearing chassis member. The chassis itself weighed a remarkably scant 86 pounds and the entire car, race-ready, weighed no more than 1,268 pounds.
293687
Viewed: Apr 28, 2024
Updated: Apr 18, 2024
Priced: Apr 18, 2024

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