This iconic John Player Special Lotus Type 79 is the actual car in which Mario Andretti crushed the opposition to win the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort and then claim his 1978 Formula 1 Drivers' world title in the subsequent Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

Known as 'Black Beauty' after its streamlined good looks and distinctive black-and-gold 'JPS' livery, Team Lotus Type 79 was introduced to Formula 1 for the 1978 season. The car quickly caused a stir, with 20 starts between its two drivers in 11 Grand Prix, notching up six wins and five podium places, as well as 10 pole positions and five fastest laps, of which two were set by Andretti. The Type 79 helped Lotus take the most wins in a single season since the 1955 victories of the Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows, with Andretti and his teammate Ronnie Peterson delivering four 1-2 finishes, earning the moniker the 'Mario and Ronnie train'.

However, their success was not just a one season wonder. Designed by Lotus engineer and designer Martin Ogilvie with input from Lotus-founder and team boss Colin Chapman and aerodynamicist Peter Wright, the Type 79 represented a major technological leap forward with its sophisticated 'ground effects' aerodynamic form.

The concept had started with Lotus' earlier Type 78 'wing car' and was perfected with the Type 79. Harnessing a suction effect at high speed, generated from underwing floors along each side midships, to squash its tyres down on the track, thereby enhancing grip and traction, the design became the standard of racing which, where regulations permit, still endures after 45 years.

While such racing results and engineering pedigree command immense historic significance, the true stature of the 'Black Beauty' is also magnified by the racing credentials of Mario Andretti – the perfect union of man and machine.

One of the most successful racing drivers of all time, Andretti embodied the American dream, having emigrated to the US from Italy in 1955. Just over twenty years later he had achieved the never repeated feat of winning the Indianapolis 500 (1969), Daytona 500 (1967) and the Formula 1 Drivers' World Championship.

To date, he is only the second American to have won Formula 1's greatest prize, following Phil Hill, who also clinched his title at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza in 1961.

This 1978 Lotus-Cosworth Ford Type 79 'John Player Special' is available as part of Bonhams On the Grid Abu Dhabi auction set for 25th November 2023. It’s estimated value is between $6.5m-$9.5m.