Sunbeam Lister Tiger.
Discussion
I believe it's an Alpine donor with all of the Tiger bits bolted on. The tell-tale is that the Tiger transmission tunnel was cut out and them cobbled back on.
Yes, I do have access to dimensions from one of the originals but have mostly worked from photos I've collected. I did a lot of conversions with a digital caliper form photographs based on dimensions of known parts. The three original cars are definitely not identical and my car won't be an exact replica but hopefully it will be close.
Front suspension is rebuilt stock Tiger with Wilwood brakes and hub conversion to 5 lug Mustang II 10" rotors. Rear suspension is rebuilt stock Tiger modified for a triangulated 4-bar linkage with coil-overs. Hubs were custom made for 5-lug to accept the pin drive adapters.
Engine will be small block Ford of some flavor... Also thinking of P38 Lightening heads but not sure if I need that kind of horse power. I just kinda want to drive the sucker and not go 150 MPH .
Thanks.
Yes, I do have access to dimensions from one of the originals but have mostly worked from photos I've collected. I did a lot of conversions with a digital caliper form photographs based on dimensions of known parts. The three original cars are definitely not identical and my car won't be an exact replica but hopefully it will be close.
Front suspension is rebuilt stock Tiger with Wilwood brakes and hub conversion to 5 lug Mustang II 10" rotors. Rear suspension is rebuilt stock Tiger modified for a triangulated 4-bar linkage with coil-overs. Hubs were custom made for 5-lug to accept the pin drive adapters.
Engine will be small block Ford of some flavor... Also thinking of P38 Lightening heads but not sure if I need that kind of horse power. I just kinda want to drive the sucker and not go 150 MPH .
Thanks.
All three Lister Tigers started life in the Rootes 'works' dept in period as S3 Alpines. Good to see all surviving. The one that remains in the UK, was nearly scrapped. It was used a dragster in Germany by the then airforce based Americans, then unceremoniously dumped as a wreck when the Americans left the airbase. Luckily an Australian saved it and went back with him to Australia. Repatriated back to the UK by the current owner. A lot more competitive now that they've chopped into the scuttle and fitted triple webers. It's also sporting a 289, factory was 260.
The other Lister Le Mans Tiger (now in the US) that also didn't finish the 24hr race, is expected to be at Goodwood Revival as part of the club's 50th celebrations this year. Would be nice to see both Le Mans Listers on circuit together.
The 3rd car 'The Mule' was the Rootes competition's dept prototype and test bed, and was never raced in anger (now also lives the US). I knew somebody (sadly now deceased) who raced 'The Mule' as a privateer in hill climbs all over the UK back in the sixties - that must have been fun!!
The other Lister Le Mans Tiger (now in the US) that also didn't finish the 24hr race, is expected to be at Goodwood Revival as part of the club's 50th celebrations this year. Would be nice to see both Le Mans Listers on circuit together.
The 3rd car 'The Mule' was the Rootes competition's dept prototype and test bed, and was never raced in anger (now also lives the US). I knew somebody (sadly now deceased) who raced 'The Mule' as a privateer in hill climbs all over the UK back in the sixties - that must have been fun!!
Very nice work jimlenx ...
I have no experience of Tigers except once when getting my Hillman Hunter fixed in about 1981, the guy mending rented out his forecourt to a local chap who used to sell cars ... he showed me this Tiger, I thought it was an Alpine! - and started it up ... well, blown away by the exhaust note. Can't remember how much it was for sale for but remember it was resale red though ...
Whatever price it was, no way could I have afforded it. He also had a rotten as a peach 4.2 E-Type 2+2 (also red). Full of filler. That was about £2500ish I think. If only ...
I have no experience of Tigers except once when getting my Hillman Hunter fixed in about 1981, the guy mending rented out his forecourt to a local chap who used to sell cars ... he showed me this Tiger, I thought it was an Alpine! - and started it up ... well, blown away by the exhaust note. Can't remember how much it was for sale for but remember it was resale red though ...
Whatever price it was, no way could I have afforded it. He also had a rotten as a peach 4.2 E-Type 2+2 (also red). Full of filler. That was about £2500ish I think. If only ...
I can confirm that there was a fastback tiger on the USAF base in Germany during the 80's as I was driving a Tiger myself at that time and was offered this car on a very good deal but there where some much more delectable machines offered at the time because of the collapse of the "Berlin Wall" all the yanks were preparing to evacuate in a hurry and were dumping cars like there was no tomorrow. The Tiger was in the auto hobby shop on base where they held the drag races when a new commanding officer was installed to organize the total army clearout and repatriation. He was ex WEST-POINT (a proper military asshole)who came up with quotes like:- "This is a military base not a damn race track get this junk(cars) outta here, now !!
I enjoyed the Tiger for several months but there were some very nice machinary kicking about at the time so I got through a Shelby GT500,Boss Mustang 302,Lambo V12 Jarama and a Plymouth Barracuda and used the Tiger as a tow car for my racing Opel GT V8
Edited by rolymo on Saturday 1st February 02:10
During that period in Germany there was a lot of upheaval which resulted in a number of interesting cars being found :- An original Shelby GT350 works team racer that had been raced in Europe by Ford Cologne GMBH was in a scrap yard next to a stripped out Bizzarini shell and a genuine Dodge Daytona[big-wing]which had the engine swapped out for a 440 wedge motor. I tried heaven and earth to buy that car but the guy knew it's true value and sold it to an international dealer.The GT500 was containered and shipped to the states where it made a fortune(as unrestored) photo :-one of my other Mustangs
Huntsman said:
Mrs Huntsman wants med to build her a road going replica of the Sunbeam Lister Tiger for her 40th.
Have 5 years.
Oh heck.
Where to start.
I know this is an old postHave 5 years.
Oh heck.
Where to start.
I built a Lister Tiger replica some years ago.i used a 351 ford windsor engine. Many mechanical changes.all. Ody work was done by me
Be interested in where you are with your project
Chuck Ingram said:
I know this is an old post
I built a Lister Tiger replica some years ago.i used a 351 ford windsor engine. Many mechanical changes.all. Ody work was done by me
Be interested in where you are with your project
I haven't even started although I would still love to do it.I built a Lister Tiger replica some years ago.i used a 351 ford windsor engine. Many mechanical changes.all. Ody work was done by me
Be interested in where you are with your project
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