Ligier JS2

Production period:	1970 to 1975
Class:	sports car
Body versions:	Coupe
Engines:	Gasoline: 2.6-3.0 litres
Length:	4167.32 in, 4,250 mm
Width:	67.72 in, 1,720 mm
Height:	45.28 in, 1,150 mm
Wheelbase:	95.52 in, 2,350 mm
Ground clearance:	5.51 in, 140 mm
Curb weight:	960-980 kg

The Ligier JS2 was a 1970s French sports car that was built between 1970 and 1975 by Ligier.

History

The JS2 was the successor of the JS1 and was presented to the public in October 1970 at the 57th Paris Motor Show.The bodywork by Frua the car went into production in 1971. The vehicle was a proper construction of Ligier and was a mid-engine road car with a V6 engine from Maserati. The JS2 had a platform frame made of pressed steel and a polyester body.Other components and tail-lights were sourced from French brands such as Citroën and Peugeot. 

The JS2 had independent wheel suspensions on triangular wishbones on all four wheels and anti-roll bars front and rear. With rack and pinion steering. 

The Maserati V6 light alloy cylinder block and head engine made 170 hp and accelerated the car to a maximum of 150 mph, 242 km/h with Weber 42 DCNF downdraught twin barrel carburettors.Quick even for those times, the JS2 consumed 24 litres per 100 km of fuel with 5 speed fully synchronized gearbox with limited slip differential optional . 

PERFORMANCE: V6 2,670 cc

• Max speed: 150 mph, 242 km/h
• Max power (DIN): 170 hp at 5,500 rpm
• Max torque (DIN): 170 1b ft, 23.5 kg m at 4,000 rpm
• Max engine rpm: 6,000 64.4 hp/l
• power-weight ratio: 11 lb/hp, 5 kg/hp
• fuel consumption: 17.7 m/ imp gal, 14.7 m/ US gal

By 1973 the JS2 received a larger Maserati C114 engine which increased the displacement to 2965 cc

PERFORMANCE: 2,965 cc

• Max speed: 153 mph, 247 km/h
• Max power (DIN): 195 hp at 5,500 rpm
• Max torque (DIN): 178 1b ft, 24.5 kg m at 4,000 rpm
• Max engine rpm: 6,000; 65.8 hp/l
• power-weight ratio: 10.8 lb/hp, 4.9 kg/hp
• speed in top at 1,000 rpm: 21.7 mph, 35 km/h
• fuel consumption: 17.7 m/ imp gal, 14.7 m/US gal

Race versions 

In 1972, the first racing version for the 24 Hours of Le Mans was constructed. The engine used was a 2.7-liter V6 engine from Maserati, which was already used in the Citroën SM. This replaced also in the road from 1972 Ford engine. The racing engine had a 4-way crankshaft, a cylinder head with two overhead camshafts and 24 valves (unlike the road-only engine, which had only 12 valves). At Le Mans, three vehicles were used, two works cars and one by Claude Laurent Privately used car with a 3.0-liter engine. All three race cars fell out due to engine damage, the works cars of Pierre Maublanc and Jacques Laffite held until the last hour of racing through.

In 1973, the JS2 of Laurent achieved the first goal finish in 19th place, the two works cars fell out again. 1974 saw the first arrival of a factory car, the vehicle of Laffite and Alain Serpaggi reached the ninth overall place. In the Tour de France for automobiles there was a double victory for the JS2 in the same year. The winner was Gerard Larrousse - of the control with Jean-Pierre Nicolas said - before a second JS2, the Bernard Darniche piloted.

The biggest success of the car was achieved at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1975, when the works car with Jean-Louis Lafosse / Guy Chasseuil at the wheel, a long duel with the two Gulf GR8, driven by Jacky Ickx / Derek Bell and Vern Schuppan / Jean-Pierre Jaussaud delivered. In the end, Lafosse / Chasseuil had to defeat the GR8 of Ickx / Bell with only one lap back.

By the end of production in 1975 a revised Series 2 was built in limited numbers, at the end of 1975, the production of JS2 was discontinued. According to the factory specification, 225 copies were built including the racing versions.