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Ligier JS2

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Ligier JS2[1]
1973 Ligier JS2
Overview
ManufacturerAutomobiles Ligier
Production1971-1975
AssemblyFrance: Abrest, Allier
DesignerPietro Frua
Body and chassis
ClassSports car
Body style2-door coupé[1]
Layoutmid-engine, rear-wheel drive
Powertrain
EngineOHV V6 (Ford)
DOHC V6 (Maserati)
Transmission5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,350 mm (92.5 in)[1]
Length4,250 mm (167.3 in)[1]
Width1,720 mm (67.7 in)[1]
Height1,151 mm (45.3 in)[1]
Kerb weight980 kg (2,161 lb)[1]
Chronology
PredecessorLigier JS1

The Ligier JS2 is a mid-engined French sports coupe that was built by Ligier in the commune of Abrest near Vichy in the department of Allier between 1971 and 1975. It was built in road-car and competition versions.

Conception and predecessor

Guy Ligier founded his automobile company in 1968 to fulfill a dream he shared with his former racing partner, business partner and close friend Jo Schlesser.[2][3] As racing teammates Ligier and Schlesser talked about together building a car that would overcome what they felt were the shortcomings of the cars they were driving at the time. Following the death of Schlesser in 1968 Ligier retired from racing to pursue the sports-racing car dream.

The JS2 was the second result of these efforts. The first was the JS1, which was displayed at the Paris Auto Show in 1969.[4] All JS1s were built for racing, and only three were ever made. The JS1 was built on an aluminum chassis designed by Chief Engineer Michel Têtu with fibreglass bodywork by Frua.[5] Even though only three JS1s were built, four different engines would be variously used - two different versions of the Cosworth FVA DOHC inline four-cylinder engine and two versions of the OHV Ford Cologne V6 engine. The Cosworths were mated to Hewland transaxles while the Fords were bolted to a modified transaxle from the Citroën SM[6]. Regardless of the engine used, due to there only being three copies the JS1 was limited to running in the Prototype class.[3]

History and features

The JS2 was designed to take the lessons learned with the JS1 and apply them to a car that could be built in larger quantities, specifically 500 cars, to qualify it to race in the GT class.[7].[8] The letters in the name of the car, like the JS1 before it, are a tribute to Schlesser.[3]

Visually the car was a development of the JS1. The bodywork was again by Frua, but Ligier himself insisted on certain modifications to the original design. The proportions of the cabin in particular were adjusted because Ligier wanted a car that was not too wide, with a low centre of gravity, and a big windscreen.[9] He also wanted it to be practical, with wide doors for ease of access and a usable trunk.[10]

The car was built on a unique backbone chassis made of a layer of polyurethane foam sandwiched between sheets of steel.[5][8] Suspension was by wishbones and coil springs on all four corners. Braking was by power-assisted discs. Anti-roll bars were mounted front and rear. Minor components like door-handles and tail-lights were sourced from major brands like Peugeot and Citroën. Weight is variously given as 980 kg or 1030 kb.[7]

The JS2's first public showing was at the Paris Auto Show in October of 1970.[4] This car was powered by a 2.6 litre Ford V6 much like one of the earlier JS1s. Coincidentally, Ford was planning on using this engine in their own GT70, a mid-engined sports coupe being developed as a smaller companion to their successful GT40. Fearing that the Ligier might cannibalize sales of their own car, Ford refused to supply engines for the JS2.

Fortunately for Ligier, there was an engine that would bolt right up to their car's Citroën transaxle; the Maserati C114 V6, also from the SM. The engine in the SM was designed by Giulio Alfieri of Maserati, which company Citroën had purchased in 1968. Alfieri produced a 90 degree DOHC V6 with hemispherical combustion chambers and 12 valves. Built from light alloy the engine displaced 2675cc and weighed just 140 kgs, but produced 170 hp.[8] A deal was struck with Raymond Ravenel, Managing Director of Citroën, to use this engine in the JS2.[5]

Têtu redesigned the rear cradle of the chassis to accommodate the Maserati engine, stretching the car by 50 mm.[5] These changes also gave Ligier an opportunity to have coachbuilders Pichon-Parat make some final revisions to the car's appearance.[11][10][3] This revised JS2 with its new Italian motor debuted at the Paris Auto Show in October of 1971. The car was priced at 74,000 francs[5] (roughly US$13,350.00 at the time). The first cars would be delivered in November of 1972.[4][7] 48 copies were built in 1972.[5][7]

In February of 1973 the JS2 received a larger C114 engine shared with the Maserati Merak.[11] Displacement was now up to 2965ccs, power up 25 bhp to 195 bhp, and the price up 500 francs to 74,500. 80 cars were built this year.[5][7]

The biggest change in 1974 takes place on the business side of things for Ligier. This year they enter into an agreement to sell their cars through Citroën's dealership network,[11] which will also provide after-sales service. By the end of this year Citroën had also transferred assembly of the SM to Ligier's factory in Abrest. As for the JS2, 114 copies were built in 1974.[5]

1975 sees the debut of the "Series 2" JS2. The nose has been redesigned with hidden headlamps and the car receives 5-lug wheels. The price has risen to 80,000 francs.[11] At the same time the 1973 Oil Crisis has caused the market for specialty vehicles to shrink dramatically. Only 7 of the Series 2 JS2s will be built.[5]

The Oil Crisis affected Citroën deeply, and they also faced severe financial difficulties because of some business decisions that did not work out. Eventually they were forced to merge with Peugeot. One of the casualties of the merger was the SM.

On May 22nd 1975 Citroën issued an announcement saying that Maserati had been put into receivership.[12] Control of the company would eventually pass to De Tomaso, who would end production of the C114 V6, leaving Ligier without an engine for the JS2. Production of the road-going JS2 comes to an end.

Motorsports

The competition JS2 used a version of the chassis made from aluminum. Bodywork was also different from the road cars.

Designed as a GT car it was meant to compete both in rallyes and on racing circuit courses.

1972 - At the 24 Hours of Le Mans all cars retire with engine troubles.[13] There is one win at Rally of Bayonne driven by Jean-François Piot.[5]

1973 - Michel Beaujon takes up the development of the racing JS2 with the departure of Têtu for Autodelta. With sponsorship from Citroën improvements to the car's aerodynamics are made, among them a new nose and rear spoiler. Maserati adds a dry-sump to the engine and raises power to 330 bhp.[11] At Le Mans engine problems again cause the retirement of the two works cars with the only JS2 finisher being the private entry driven by Martial Delalande, Jacques Marché and Claude Laurent. At the Tour de France the JS2 team of Gérard Larousse and Guy Chasseuil win 14 of the 17 stages, only to be robbed of a victory by a distributor failure.

1974 - The team is sponsored by Total S.A.. Chasseuil started the season with an outright win at the 4 Hours of Le Mans.[14] JS2s run in most of the World Championship races with with limited success. Jacques Lafitte and Alain Serpaggi manage a credible eight place at the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year. The Tour de France race at the season's end is the year's high point - JS2s finish first and second.

1975 - The team is sponsored by Gitanes.[7] Two of the works JS2 campaigned this year had Cosworth DFV V8 engines installed in the place of the Maseratis. The new engines produce 460 bhp and drive through a Hewland transaxle. At the 24 Hours of Le Mans the two Cosworth cars and one Maserati car started. The Cosworth-powered car of Lafosse and Chasseuil fight a race-long battle with the Mirage of Derek Bell and Jacky Ickx but ultimately finish in second place.[15] This is their best showing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It is also the last outing for the JS2 in competition; Ligier's attention had turned to Formula One.

Other famous names from the ranks of French racing driver who were also Ligier pilots include Guy Ligier himself, as well as Michel Leclère, Henri Pescarolo, François Migault, Jean-Pierre Beltoise, and Jean-Pierre Jarier.

Racing JS2 in 1975
JS2 at 2011 Tour Auto Historique

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "1972 Ligier JS2". carfolio.com. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
  2. ^ "Guy Ligier's Biography". old.classic-days.fr. Retrieved 2016-12-01.
  3. ^ a b c d "Ligier JS2: l'hommage à Jo". boitierrouge.com. Retrieved 2016-12-01.
  4. ^ a b c "LIGIER JS2: La Berlinette Géniale de Guy Ligier". aonclassiccar.fr. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "1972 Ligier JS2". automobile-sportive.com. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
  6. ^ "Ligier JS1 Ford". www.ultimatecarpage.com. Retrieved 2016-12-01.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "Ligier JS2 (1971-1975)". www.lautomobileancienne.com. Retrieved 2016-12-01.
  8. ^ a b c "LIGIER JS2: il lui a manqué un vrai bon moteur". www.larevueautomobile.com. Retrieved 2016-12-01.
  9. ^ "Guy Ligier's legacy lives on with the Maserati-powered JS2". www.classicdriver.com. Retrieved 2016-12-01.
  10. ^ a b "Ligier's JS2: A Tribute to Jo Schlesser". www.velocetoday.com. Retrieved 2016-11-01.
  11. ^ a b c d e "L'histoire de la Ligier JS2". ligierjs2.com. Retrieved 2016-12-01.
  12. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/1975/05/23/archives/liquidation-is-approved-for-maserati-car-maker.html?_r=0
  13. ^ http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/5842/Ligier-JS2-Cosworth.html
  14. ^ http://www.racingsportscars.com/photo/Le_Mans-1974-03-24.html
  15. ^ http://www.racingsportscars.com/photo/Le_Mans-1975-06-15.html

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ligier JS2.

Category:Racing cars Category:Cars introduced in 1970 Category:Ligier racing cars

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