Federal # 002
Chassis Number 79010122T
Engine Number AD907790115901
20,865 miles (Dec 1999)
This car is now owned by James Strickland who purchased it from Rick Hill who acquired the car from Hayes Harris in Ft. Pierce, FL in a trade involving 2 Jaguar E-Types.
The car is fully documented, including a letter from Lotus Cars' Arnold Johnson, VP Technical Service (now head of Lotus Cars, USA) dated 10/24/96 that states "Lotus Cars USA, Inc. Records confirm the above-mentioned vehicle was presented to Mario Andretti during a ceremony held prior to the April 1979 Long Beach Grand Prix."
According to the original dealer, Lou Mirabile, #002 was the car presented to Mr. Andretti in the ceremony, having been temporarily rebadged as #001, since the true #001 was not ready for him. Andretti recieved the car #001 and title to it at a reportedly much later date, but used #002 in the meantime. The car was driven by Mr. Andretti when he visited the West Coast for its first 5726 miles under it's MSO. The car wasn't officially sold and titled until 9/17/83. It was first purchased by a Robert Moshein of Beverly Hills, CA sold next a Ronald Novigrod from Austin, TX in 1988. It ended up with a collector from Boca Raton, FL and then traded to Hayes Harris, then of Delray Beach, FL in 1993. The car was sold by Harris to a David Scroggins of Newnan, GA later that year. Following an auto accident (in another vehicle) Scroggins resold the car to Harris, now of Ft. Pierce, FL earlier this year who then sold it to Rick, again in Boca Raton.
Jame's car today has 20,865 miles and is in pristine, original condition.
Rick Hill recieved a letter from Mario Andretti himself when he owned the car. This letter reads as follows:
Dear Rick,
I am happy to learn that one of my favorite cars has ended up in the hands of a fan and former sponsor of Newman/Haas Racing.
The 1978 Formula 1 season was a highlight of my career, made especially memorable by the production of commemorative edition Lotus Esprit John Player Specials the following year. Your car, #002, was the one actually presented to me in Long Beach by Lotus and was a great pleasure to drive. I remember it fondly. Please take good care of it and drive it slower than I did!
Sincerely,
Mario Andretti
July 10, 1998