Guy Ligier was a French former athlete and successful businessman who began a career as a professional racing driver at 34 years of age.
"[5] The question would not be answered before Schlesser's untimely death in practice at what was to have been his Formula 1 debut at the French Grand Prix in 1968.
The body was designed by Pietro Frua and executed in fibreglass, but Ligier had considerable input into the details of his first car.
His requirements that the car be light and compact but with good forward visibility from the cabin resulted in the JS1 having a large cockpit and big, sloping windshield.
[4] Têtu's chassis was similar in principle to the contemporary Lotus Europa and Alpine A110, being a central backbone with additional structures front and rear to accommodate suspension and engine.
Steel had been considered for use in the chassis but in the end Têtu employed a polyurethane Klegecell core sandwiched between aluminum panels.
[8] Guy Ligier drove the JS1 in its 1969 debut race at the Critérium des Cévennes but retired due to a failed engine mount.