 1958 Costin | 1958 Knobbly |
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1959 Lister Special news, pictures, and information | ||
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Driver Brian Lister began producing sports racing cars during the mid-1950s, using MG and Bristol engines at first, and then experimenting with Jaguar and Chevrolet power. The Lister-Jaguars of 1957 had success racing against the highly competitive Jaguar D-Types and Aston Martins of the time. In total, there were 34 examples of the Lister-Jaguar constructed.
By Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2007
By Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2007
The Geo Lister Company was formed by George Lister in the late 1890s. Geo Lister formed a partnership with Charles Flatters and Harry Branch, creating a general engineering, blacksmith and wrought ironwork shop. When the partners retired and his sons Alfred and Horace joined the business, the company's name was changed to 'Geo. Lister & Sons' in 1919. In 1930, Horace became sole proprietor after the untimely death of his brother Alfred, and then their father.
Horace's sons Raymond and Brian later became directors in the company, ascending to joint Managing Directorship in 1954. Brian had an interest in racing and one of his first races was in a Morgan 4/4 sports. Later, he built a Cooper-MG sports car with help from Lister apprentice Edwin 'Dick' Barton. This was followed by the Tojeiro-JAP named the Asteroid.
Brian Lister met a one-handed individual named Archie Scott Brown who would later prove his abilities as a world-class racing driver. When the duo met Don Moore, a local motor engineer, the ingredients were formed for what would become a successful series of Lister sports-racing cars. During the 1950s , their cars would be a dominant force in the 'free-Formula' British sports car category and in Sports Car Club of America national Championship competition. The legendary 'Knobbly' Lister-Jaguars and Lister-Chevrolets are a few of the memorable names that raced during the 1958 and 1959 SCCA series.
A new company was formed by Brian Lister, dubbed 'Brian Lister (Light Engineering) Ltd' with the purpose of building racing cars. They utilized engines and various components from MG, Bristol, Chevrolet, Jaguar and Maserati vehicles during the 1950s. The most famous of their creations was the Knobbly. In total, there were no more than 17 original cars constructed in 1958. Following Scott Brown's fatal accident at Spa, Belgium, in May of 1958, Brian Lister closed his car manufacturing business.
In 1990, four special 'Centenary Edition' Lister-Jaguar 'Knobbly' cars were created to honor the centenary year of Geo. Lister & Sons Ltd. They were made to the same standard as the original. The final products were marketed by Lawrence Pearce in England.
By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2008
Horace's sons Raymond and Brian later became directors in the company, ascending to joint Managing Directorship in 1954. Brian had an interest in racing and one of his first races was in a Morgan 4/4 sports. Later, he built a Cooper-MG sports car with help from Lister apprentice Edwin 'Dick' Barton. This was followed by the Tojeiro-JAP named the Asteroid.
Brian Lister met a one-handed individual named Archie Scott Brown who would later prove his abilities as a world-class racing driver. When the duo met Don Moore, a local motor engineer, the ingredients were formed for what would become a successful series of Lister sports-racing cars. During the 1950s , their cars would be a dominant force in the 'free-Formula' British sports car category and in Sports Car Club of America national Championship competition. The legendary 'Knobbly' Lister-Jaguars and Lister-Chevrolets are a few of the memorable names that raced during the 1958 and 1959 SCCA series.
A new company was formed by Brian Lister, dubbed 'Brian Lister (Light Engineering) Ltd' with the purpose of building racing cars. They utilized engines and various components from MG, Bristol, Chevrolet, Jaguar and Maserati vehicles during the 1950s. The most famous of their creations was the Knobbly. In total, there were no more than 17 original cars constructed in 1958. Following Scott Brown's fatal accident at Spa, Belgium, in May of 1958, Brian Lister closed his car manufacturing business.
In 1990, four special 'Centenary Edition' Lister-Jaguar 'Knobbly' cars were created to honor the centenary year of Geo. Lister & Sons Ltd. They were made to the same standard as the original. The final products were marketed by Lawrence Pearce in England.
By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2008
 |  |  | Roadster Chassis Num: BHL 124 |
By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2009
 |  |  | Roadster Chassis Num: BHL130 |
By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2009
 |  |  | Roadster Chassis Num: BHL 123 Engine Num: LC1299-8 |
| Sold for $1,100,000 at 2010 Gooding & Company. | |||
Mr. Brian Lister stepped forward to fill this void. His family engineering firm, George Lister & Sons, built a range of high-quality metalwork reaching back to the Victorian era. Mr. Lister's history with race car designs and fabrication dated back to the late 1940s, with his Cooper-MG sports specials. By the time of the Jaguar fire, his list of racing specials included a car for John Tojeiro, and many others that carried his own Lister badge using Bristol, Rover or MG power - in one case, a Maserati engine.
In 1957, Lister produced his first Jaguar-powered sports racer. In the capable hands of driver Archie Scott-Brown, the car achieved many outstanding race victories. Lister's sponsor, British Petroleum, was searching for a team of large-displacement sports racing cars to rival Aston Martin and Ecurie Ecosse Jaguars, both of whom were sponsored by Esso. British Petroleum found a formidable opponent with Lister and soon the first production 'Knobbly' Lister Jaguars, so named for its unusual but effective body shape and aerodynamics, debuted in 1958. Briggs Cunningham purchased the first two cars, which served as compliments, and later replacements, for his older Jaguar D-Type team cars.
In early 1959, Lister began a restyling of the Knobbly bodywork. Aeronautical engineer Frank Costin was tasked with the advanced bodywork. Frank Costin was the brother of Mike Costin, the co-founder of the firm Cosworth. Together with designer and engineer Jim Marsh, Frank Costin co-founded Marcos Sports Cars. While there, he applied his knowledge of building monocoque chassis from plywood, a skill that he learned from his aircraft work. He later built the Costin Amigo and the TMC Costin in the mid 1980s as well as the Costin Sports Racers in the early 1990s.
The updated Costin's were sleeker and less aerodynamic than the Knobbly. In total, there were nine Cosin Listers constructed. Just two were powered by Jaguar and the other seven were given V-8 engines from Chevrolet. The Chevrolet engines were installed by the legendary Texans Jim Hall and Carroll Shelby, Lister's first US importers.
This car, chassis number BHL 123, was originally purchased by Briggs Cunningham and prepared by legendary Cunningham team chief mechanic Alfred Momo. The car's first competition outing was the inaugural 12 Hours of Sebring race in 1959. The list of driver's include Jaguar LeMans veteran, Ivor Bueb, and Stirling Moss. American racer Russell Boss was listed as a reserve driver.
At the 1959 12 Hours of Sebring, Stirling Moss was driving in third place when he made a scheduled pit stop. Impatient to rejoin the race, Moss left before the tank was full. Subsequently, he ran dry on the course. Walt Hansgen, a Cunningham teammate, tried pushing the car with his Knobbly Lister but the aluminum bodywork was not strong enough for the task. Moss then got out of the car and hitched a ride to the pits for more fuel on a race marshal's motorcycle. He was later disqualified for using outside help.
The next race, Hansgen drove the race car to four fist place finished at the following venues: Virginia International Raceway, the Cumberland International Races in Maryland, Bridgehampton Race Circuit and Watkins Glen. Virginia International Raceway, the Cumberland International Races in Maryland, Bridgehampton Race Circuit and Watkins Glen.
In 1961, the car was purchased by US dealer/racer Bob Grossman. The car was later sold to Phil Forno, who raced it with co-drivers Ed Crawford and Dr. Dick Thompson. By 1976, the car had returned to England where it was campaigned by Tony Crossingham. In 1978, the car was purchased by William Symons who kept it until 1983 when it was sold to Chris Drake. That same year, the car returned to America and into the care of Dean G. Watts. While in his care, the car was given a more rugged alloy suspension uprights and a roll bar.
The car returned back to England in 1989. A year later, it was owned by vintage dealer Dan Marguiles, who registered the car with the FIA Historic Vehicle Identity program. It passed through the hands of a few UK collectors until it once again returned to America, where the present owner purchased it in 2000. The new owner gave the car a full mechanical restoration. In 2003, it was given a comprehensive, body-off restoration. Recently, it has been given a comprehensive cosmetic and mechanical restoration.
During its nine full-vintage race seasons, comprising of approximately 70 race weekends with the current owner, the car had many successful finishes and just two DNFs. The list of racing venues where this car has participated includes Circuit Mont Tremblant, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Road Atlanta, Portland International Raceway, the Wine Country Classic Historic Car Races, Lime Rock Park, Watkins Glen, and even at the banked oval of Daytona where it won the Lister Reunion race in 2001.
In 2009, the car won the SVRA Group 4 Enduro Championship. In 2006 it won the Group 4 Sprint Races Championship. Concours honors have included multiple class wins at the Road & Track Race Car Concours at Elkhart Lake and the Cunningham Tribute at The Quail in 2007.
In 2010, this car was offered for sale at Gooding & Company's Scottsdale Auction in Arizona. The lot was sold for the sum of $1,100,000, inclusive of buyer's premium.
By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2010
 |  |  | Roadster Chassis Num: BHL 127 Engine Num: 3789935 |
| Sold for $528,000 at 2013 RM Auctions. | |||
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, U.S.-built engines were added to the British-built sports car. The Lister-Chevrolet became 'the car to beat', sweeping the SCCA Championships in 1958 and 1959. Unfortunately, this powerplant was introduced at the end of its production life span. As production wound down in 959, fewer than 50 examples were produced, only 16 of which were Chevrolet-powered.
With very few Listers produced, and relatively few having survived the hard life of track cars, these racing machines are highly sought after in modern times. This example, BHL127, was supplied new in 1959 as a Frank Costin-bodied car with a Chevrolet engine. It was reportedly owned in its early years by Chuck Howard and Tracy Bird and raced at tracks like Road America and Elkhart Lake. The car was later owned by Jim Mullen, and in the 1970s was approved by the Vintage Sports Car Club of America. A short time later, it was sent to England and into the care of Barry Simpson and David Clark, and later Walter Becker, of Switzerland. At some point, the car was rebodied with its present Knobbly-style bodywork, believed to date back to Simpson's ownership and to have hailed from his shop.
The car was later rebuilt by Mark Lewis Design Engineering and went on to win the BRDC Championship outright. at the British Grand Prix support race. It also won the Sussex Trophy race at Goodwood twice. In the early 2000s, the car achieved 34 top three finishes at some of the most prestigious races in the world, setting all-time lap records for a '50s sports car at Oulton Park, Goodwood, and Spa. It is a multiple winner with the BRDC, the Stirling Moss Trophy, the VSCC, and the HGPCA.
The car is currently powered by a 283 cubic-inch Chevrolet V-8 engine rated at 436 horsepower. There is a Borg-Warner T-10 four-speed manual transmission and four-wheel Girling disc brakes.
In 2013, this car was offered for sale at RM Auctions Scottsdale, Arizona sale. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $528,000 inclusive of buyer's premium.
By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2013
The Jaguar D-Type sports racer was a very dominate machine due to its excellent performance and handling characteristics. As such, there was a strong demand from Jaguar to continue to produce sports cars. In 1957 a fire at a factory and Jaguar's withdrawal from racing saw the production of the D-Type come to a close. As a result others stepped in to produce racers based on Jaguar components. One of the more successful of these creations was designed and built by Brian Lister. His first racers came on the scene in 1954 and often competed against stiff competition such as the Aston Martins and Jaguar D-Tpes. Archie Scott-Brown was one of the more memorable drivers who piloted the Lister built machines to many podium finishes and dominated the British racing car scene in 1957, winning 11 out of the 14 races. The 1957 Lister / Jaguar machine was constructed of a light-weight steel space frame chassis and bodied in an aluminum body. Its body was lump and thus it was given the nickname 'Knobbly'. Development continued throughout the years with a total of seventeen examples being created with most going to the United States. The first two examples were built for the legendary American sportsman, Briggs Cunningham. Seven examples were delivered to Jim Hall and Carrol Shelby who outfitted them with Chevrolet power-plants.
In 1959 the aerodynamics were changed and fitted with modified bodies designed by Frank Costin, an aeronautical engineer. The lines were smoothed out considerably, but the changes increased the frontal area and had an detrimental affect on the vehicles aerodynamics. As a result it had a lower top speed. In total, eleven examples were built with two being powered by Jaguar engines.
By Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2007
For more information and related vehicles, click hereIn 1959 the aerodynamics were changed and fitted with modified bodies designed by Frank Costin, an aeronautical engineer. The lines were smoothed out considerably, but the changes increased the frontal area and had an detrimental affect on the vehicles aerodynamics. As a result it had a lower top speed. In total, eleven examples were built with two being powered by Jaguar engines.
By Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2007
| Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival Celebrates Corvette'S 60 Years At Sonoma Raceway | |
 | • Fast cars, fine food and wine highlight May 18-19 weekend • Paul Reinhart is honored guest, popular racing seminar scheduled for second year SONOMA, Calif. (April 27, 2013) - The Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival returns to Sonoma Raceway on May 18-19 for the fourth straight year under that title. The program for the 27th annual historic-car event organized by General Racing Ltd. in Sonoma will celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the popular Corvette, created by the ...[Read more...] |
| YOKOHAMA TIRE CORPORATION GEARS UP FOR THE 2013 MOTORSPORTS SEASON | |
 | Plans include a new team in the ALMS GT Class and continued efforts in the GTC and GT3 Challenge series, off-road racing and drifting FULLERTON, CA (March 7, 2013) – From desert racing to drifting, Porsche 911 GT3 to Ferrari 458, Yokohama Tire Corporation (YTC) is busy tuning up for the 2013 racing season. 'This will be an exciting year,' said Andrew Briggs, YTC director of product planning and motorsports. 'We have a new ALMS partner, a historic teaming in off-road and a strong, over...[Read more...] |
| Mercedes-Benz at Pebble Beach Automotive Week: An Expression of Fascinating Design and Innovation | |
 | •Historical Tribute to SL: W194 Chassis No. 2, 7 and 11 among 300SL vehicles on display •The Concept Style Coupé opens a new chapter and generation of Mercedes-Benz vehicles •AMG 45 year anniversary highlights the pinnacle of performance and style A tribute to Mercedes-Benz SL Roadsters is set for Pebble Beach Automotive Week with three 1952 W194 vehicles among a mix of vintage and new vehicles bearing the three-pointed star that express the marque's breadth and depth of fascinating desi...[Read more...] |
| Mercedes-Benz at Pebble Beach: An Expression of Fascinating Design and Innovation | |
 | • Historical Tribute to SL: W194 Chassis No. 2, 7 and 11 among 300SL vehicles on display • The Concept Style Coupé opens a new chapter and generation of Mercedes-Benz vehicles • AMG 45 year anniversary highlights the pinnacle of performance and style A tribute to Mercedes-Benz SL Roadsters is set for Pebble Beach weekend with three 1952 W194 vehicles among a mix of vintage and new vehicles bearing the three-pointed star that express the marque's breadth and depth of fascinating design and ...[Read more...] |
| BMW North America Chairman to Drive One of Three BMW-Owned Cars in Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion | |
 | It's not every day that the chairman of an automobile company swaps his suit and tie for a Nomex driving suit and straps himself into a race car, but that's Ludwig Willisch's style. As head of BMW North America, Willisch will pilot a 1975 BMW 3.0 CSL at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion August 17-19 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The BMW 3.0 CSL that Willisch will be driving is one of only five team cars campaigned by BMW North America in 1975 and 1976, winning IMSA races at Sebring, Maz...[Read more...] |
 1959
Lister
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| Lister Costin Jaguar |
| Lister: 1951-1960 |
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| Knobbly |
| 1958 Costin | 1958 Knobbly |
