Thursday 19th September 2013

Lister 'Knobbly' making a comeback

Lister returns with Warrantywise money, some old hands and a potential 2015 launch

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Well here is a coincidence. Just a few days after Chris Harris's second place at the Goodwood Revival in a one-off Lister-Jaguar, Lister itself has announced a comeback.

There's still some work to do...

The new Lister Motor Company Limited will amalgamate the three previous Lister companies (George Lister Engineering of Cambridge, Brian Lister Light Engineering and Lister Storm) to build a recreation of the Lister 'Knobbly' Jaguar.

There's investment from Warrantywise (aftercare should be alright then...) and a new manufacturing centre for George Lister Engineering to develop the car. It will include CNC machining, 3D scanning and Catia design, promising a 'near identical development of the historic, race-winning, competition and track car'. The bodies will be produced using the original Shapecraft body bucks.

But the historic resurrection doesn't just include the design and manufacture, oh no. Somehow Lister has persuaded a few of the original Knobbly staff 'back into service'. Judging by their nicknames such as Curley and Chippy, we'd assume they're properly British old fellows too. 'Old' could be the operative word there too, seeing as the last Lister 'Knobbly' was made in 1958. Still, there's no substitute for experience...

How about an XK-based replacement too?

As for the car itself, Crosthwaite and Gardener will build the engines and gearboxes to D-Type specification. The race prep and track commissioning will be done at CKL developments, and every new Lister will comply with FIA/HTP Appendix K specification. Each chassis number will begin BHL-C, the C standing for continuation. It all sounds very thorough and authentic, basically.

Where the information gets a slightly more vague is on availability. Given a series of events are planned for 2015 to mark Lister's 125th anniversary, then would seem like a logical date. For now, there's promise from the Warranty Wise CEO Lawrence Whittaker that the Lister 'will be a fabulously exciting and desirable car'. There are some 'exciting plans' for the future too.

Can such an overtly retro project succeed? Morgan has had plenty of success with the 3-Wheeler, but then it's not a racer where provenance is so important. But on the flipside, the 'new Lister' should offer all the classic racing thrills without the prohibitive cost of an original. More details as they emerge, and hopefully we can get that man Harris behind the wheel too...

[V8 FOU]

Chris Harris chief road tester?

[cybersimon]

". . . classic racing thrills without the prohibitive cost of an original."

I guess that depends on your definition of 'prohibitive'.

Madly, insanely, Jay Leno only, prohibitive.
Or just too much for the likes of me, prohibitive.

[jonty247]

This is great news!

I wonder whether there'll be a Chevrolet V8 option? Could reduce the likely (still large) initial cost?

[wildman0609]

cybersimon said:

". . . classic racing thrills without the prohibitive cost of an original."

I guess that depends on your definition of 'prohibitive'.

Madly, insanely, Jay Leno only, prohibitive.
Or just too much for the likes of me, prohibitive.

i doubt this will be anything less that £300k considering it has fia/htp. a d type spec engine will be near £100k

[dinkel]

Lister Chevrolet:



. . . as succesfully campaigned by racer Gibbons. They are cracking cars. Spa 6 Hrs this weekend so expect to snap a few.

[Daveyraveygravey]

"125th anniversary"?

[jonty247]

dinkel said:

Lister Chevrolet:



. . . as succesfully campaigned by racer Gibbons. They are cracking cars. Spa 6 Hrs this weekend so expect to snap a few.

Nice pic!

Any idea if the green one previously run by McIntyre has been seen on the circuit lately?

[soad]

Daveyraveygravey said:

"125th anniversary"?

A series of Lister sponsored historic race meetings are planned for 2015, in time for the Lister 125th year anniversary.

[truck71]

There's investment from Warrantywise..

Buyer- I'd like a new Lister please.

Seller- Certainly, that'll be 300,000 of your finest pounds.

Buyer- Ok, there you are.

Seller- Thank you.

Buyer- When can I have my car?

Seller- ah you see, it all depends if your 300,000 finest pounds are indeed finest pounds and were presented in the correct denominations and in a manner according to our contract. We don't always give a car, depends on what is covered in the T's and C's. There might be a gesture of goodwill, two wheels, a bonnet maybe but certainly not an engine... blah blah.

[jamespink]

truck71 said:

There's investment from Warrantywise..

Buyer- I'd like a new Lister please.

Seller- Certainly, that'll be 300,000 of your finest pounds.

Buyer- Ok, there you are.

Seller- Thank you.

Buyer- When can I have my car?

Seller- ah you see, it all depends if your 300,000 finest pounds are indeed finest pounds and were presented in the correct denominations and in a manner according to our contract. We don't always give a car, depends on what is covered in the T's and C's. There might be a gesture of goodwill, two wheels, a bonnet maybe but certainly not an engine... blah blah.

Ouch... Had a bit of a difference of opinion on a warranty claim have we?

[truck71]

Haha, no not at all- just joshing with the general perception of 3rd party warranty outfits coupled with a slow afternoon.

[toppstuff]

Price this car right and have it get access to some interesting race series - and they should sell plenty of them.

Gotta be less than £200/250k though IMO.

[urquattro]

may heighten demand for a few old xk engines for rebuilds to interesting spec or perhaps the chevy v8 lump will be the grunt of choice.

will there be enough rich punters to support the plan and company beyond a paper project?