Wednesday 27th July 2011

You Know You Want To... 1990 Jaguar Lister Le Mans

Lister didn't make the XJS any prettier, but it did make it a heck of a lot faster...

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Okay, so it's not pretty... in fact it's a rather vulgar-looking beasty, but back in its day it was one of the fastest cars money could buy.

At a time when the Ferrari 348 was producing a thoroughly respectable 300bhp, these seven-litre behemoths were being delivered with just shy of 500bhp and were reputedly capable of over 200mph. It may be hard to believe, but if you'd have drag-raced an F40 in one of these you'd have probably kept up at the very least.

Had you been in one of the few 7.0 Lister XJSs with twin superchargers and 700bhp, you'd have handed any 1990 production car its backside...

However, it's hard to imagine that the Lister can ever have been considered good to look at. Earlier examples like this one retained the standard XJS bonnet, whereas with the later cars Lister shifted the headlamps backwards a few inches and brought the edge of the bonnet down to meet the bumper - presumably in an effort to reduce frontal area and increase top speed. The combination of that and the very eighties body kit do little to enhance the XKS's looks.

Still, the wheels are cool and it's rare to see one on the market. This Lister Le Mans appeared recently and, despite the rarity, low mileage and full history, it hasn't found a new owner yet at £37,950.

So if you're a big Jaguar fan or you just want to find out what 500bhp is like in a car whose design was already 15 years old when it was made (now more than 20 years ago), you might want to get your negotiating head on, check your life insurance is up to date, and put in a bid.

 

[greeneggsnsam]

Actually, the car in the first photo looks pretty good. I think the XJS is a great looking car- to me they look like stately homes with aerodynamic bits.

[vetteheadracer]

Saw one of these queuing for the ferry at Dover on the way to Le Mans in 2009 I think, in fact the rest of the PH Management were also there!

I'll see if I can find the pictures I took and post one up........loved the circa 1990 car phone that was still fitted

[Charlie Michael]

Thee is a certain quirkiness that I really like about that XJS.

[JustIgnore]

For me the XJS is one of the best looking jags.. and this one looks even better..

[DJRC]

Norf...oh Norfolk...your thread is here!!

[Parabola]

vetteheadracer said:

Saw one of these queuing for the ferry at Dover on the way to Le Mans in 2009 I think, in fact the rest of the PH Management were also there!

I'll see if I can find the pictures I took and post one up........loved the circa 1990 car phone that was still fitted

I remember that too!
The guy was from South Africa & had just bought the car/flown to England so he could drive to Le Mans?!

[cpl_payne]

Call me weird but I quite like the earlier example, the later one is too much.
Sacrilege it may be but finding an earlier one, doing a complete restoration and sticking an LS9 engine in... very appealing.

[Chris71]

I really like the example in the top photo.

Actually, I quite like the XJS in general.

[Chris-R]

Parabola said:

I remember that too!
The guy was from South Africa & had just bought the car/flown to England so he could drive to Le Mans?!

That's right - didn't he keep a car in SA too?

[johnpeat]

I reckon the value of these has doubled (or at least the asking prices have) in the last 10-15 years...

A 7l car where the body is smoothed using lead (rather than filler) is probably a slightly scary prospect atm tho surely?

[CrisW]

cpl_payne said:

Call me weird but I quite like the earlier example, the later one is too much.
Sacrilege it may be but finding an earlier one, doing a complete restoration and sticking an LS9 engine in... very appealing.

That would be a shame. v12 to v8 would be too much of a step down for me.

Surely buying a straight six XJ and fitting the bodykit would be the way to do it. Probably cheaper too.

[Dagnut]

Are you crazy? that maroon one looks class..

[cpl_payne]

CrisW said:

That would be a shame. v12 to v8 would be too much of a step down for me.

Surely buying a straight six XJ and fitting the bodykit would be the way to do it. Probably cheaper too.

Sure, but the amount of 'go' would be inadequate to the 'show'. V12 is great for smoothness, but I can't imagine the tuned version reaching double mpg digits very often as opposed to LS9. That being said, considering the costs of such a conversion it's rather a moot point - being able to afford it implies not being worried about the costs of fuel.

[pSyCoSiS]

I think that looks STUNNING.

Much more menacing than the standard XJS - love the beefed looks

If I had the cash to buy one / run one, I would snap that up.

I bet it still has an ability to show up modern-day cars??

[leon9191]

cpl_payne said:

CrisW said:

That would be a shame. v12 to v8 would be too much of a step down for me.

Surely buying a straight six XJ and fitting the bodykit would be the way to do it. Probably cheaper too.

Sure, but the amount of 'go' would be inadequate to the 'show'. V12 is great for smoothness, but I can't imagine the tuned version reaching double mpg digits very often as opposed to LS9. That being said, considering the costs of such a conversion it's rather a moot point - being able to afford it implies not being worried about the costs of fuel.

I'm sorry but it would be a crime to rip out a Jag v12 and replace it with an American v8 its a British classic for gods sake would you surgest doing the same to an old Ferrari, Lambo or whatever just because the LS9 gets better MPG and makes more power? Its kind of not the point with cars like this.

[BrettMRC]

WANT.

[cookie1600]

leon9191 said:

I'm sorry but it would be a crime to rip out a Jag v12 and replace it with an American v8 .

Wouldn't be the first time and a lot earlier in its life too:





How about a convertible?



Not sure if this is just a bodykit or a full engine too, but it looks pretty meaty to me!

Edited by cookie1600 on Wednesday 27th July 11:25

[Roo]

I assume vpr knows you've used a picture of his car.

[zcacogp]

Hubba. That is chuffing lovely.

One of the few cars posted on PH that I actually feel an almost visceral desire to own ...


Oli.

[newdogg06]

Back in around 1991 when I worked in Guildford, I saw a guy park an identical red one in North St one busy Saturday outside M+S. He then walked across the road and leant on a wall and watched everyone admiring his car for about 30 minutes! Needed his ego topping up I presume. Mad car at the time though.