2016 Lister-Jaguar 'Knobbly' Continuation Sports-Racer

• Built by George Lister Engineering Limited
• Andrew Tart 3.8-litre 'wide angle' XK engine
• Valley Motorsports handling upgrade
• Raced by Tiff Needell and Phil Keen
• Eligible for the Le Mans Classic, Goodwood and other prestigious historic events

"This car offers the best combined price to performance, power to weight, and power to frontal area ratios available anywhere in the world for a sports car. The 1957 racing season has now ended and out of the 14 races for which they were entered Scott-Brown and the Lister-Jaguar won 11, finished second in one, and had minor mechanical trouble in the other two when in the lead, nevertheless setting up the fastest lap in both races. They have also either equalled or broken the existing unlimited sports car lap record during either the racing or at practice on all circuits where they have appeared." - Lister Press Release, October 1957.

A director of his family's Cambridge-based light engineering firm, Brian Lister was better placed than most to become a racing car designer. He enlisted the considerable talents of Don Moore and Archie Scott-Brown to help with engine tuning and driving respectively, and built his first car in 1954. The MG XPAG-powered Lister proved an immediate success, notching up five 1st and eight 2nd places in short order. Upgraded that summer with a Bristol straight six, the Lister won its class during the British Grand Prix support race and throughout the 1955 and '56 UK racing seasons was a serious thorn in the side of both the Aston Martin and Jaguar works teams.

With Shell/BP backing and a Jaguar engine supply deal, Brian Lister stepped up a gear to build a car capable of contesting the World Sports Car Championship. Debuting at Snetterton on 31st March 1957, the first 'official' Lister-Jaguar took pole position and set fastest lap (though clutch failure denied it victory). The following month, Lister's prototype proved itself the class of the field with dominant overall victories at both the British Empire Trophy race (Oulton Park) and the Easter Monday Sussex Trophy race (Goodwood). Capable of showing a clean pair of exhaust pipes to both the ageing Jaguar D-Type and new Aston Martin DBR1, the Lister-Jaguar was quite simply a revelation.

Production proper commenced in 1958 with an Appendix C compliant version boasting a 10% reduction in frontal area. A riot of swooping wheelarches and air scoops punctuated by a pronounced bonnet bulge and shallow windscreen, it was affectionately christened the 'Knobbly'. One of Lister's many customers was the American millionaire private entrant Briggs Cunningham, who ordered two with Jaguar XK power and a third to accept a Chevrolet V8. The combination of the Lister chassis and lightweight Chevy engine proved immensely successful, Cunningham's cars dominating both the 1958 and 1959 SCCA Championships. For the latter season the Lister had been redesigned with sleeker bodywork by legendary aerodynamicist Frank Costin. However, by this time the writing was on the wall for front-engined sports-racers and Lister closed at the end of 1959. Opinions differ with regard to how many were made, quoted figures ranging from as few as 34 to as many as 50. In 2013 Lister was bought by Andrew and Lawrence Whittaker, who launched 10 continuation Lister Knobbly's to celebrate 60 years since Lister's inception. There have been various other 'continuation' cars built in more recent times.

Ordered directly from factory in 2015, the car we offer is a genuine continuation Knobbly constructed by still existing George Lister Engineering Limited using original jigs and advice from original staff. Its build was also supervised by the owner to include authentic and historic racing parts, while instead of the factory route this car has a period correct ultra reliable but competitive 3.8-litre, wide angle/dry sump engine built by Andrew Tart. All racing accessories are attached sympathetically without drilling or structural modifications.

The Lister was shaken down in 2016-2017 by Tiff Needell and raced by Tiff at various UK circuits. It has also raced at Spa Francorchamps, Portimao, etc. In 2022/2023 the Lister was fitted with a handling upgrade package by Valley Motorsports, who were instructed to make it the same specification as Jon Minshaw's Goodwood-winning car that Phil Keen drove to victory from the pit lane! In October 2023 Phil put the vendor's now upgraded Lister on the front row at the MRL Silverstone Legends meeting, proving this car now has top flight potential. The car was borrowed for promotional purposes with Sir Stirling Moss at Pebble Beach and at the RAC Club, sitting in the Rotunda where the original staff members celebrated the relaunch of the Knobbly with Sir Stirling (images and video available).

It is understood 2026 will see a tightening of many authenticity regulations. Goodwood, the relaunched MRL, and Peter Auto at least, are jointly reviewing eligibility criteria. The vendor advises us a major selling point for this car is that it already complies with the original specifications: no hidden upgrades, no fancy hi-tech attachments. Its specification is true to 1958, including correct Moss 'D type' gearbox. Where some others will be obliged to reverse engineer their cars, we are advised this one is a sound basis for immediate compliance. Offered with FIA papers, this uncluttered and sympathetically race-prepared Lister Knobbly is a potential race winner in the right hands.

Accompanying spares include front suspension wishbones, original Koni shock absorbers, and a handbrake assembly