Wednesday 16th May 2018

Perfect Storm: Lister trio up for auction

Lister Storm, XJS and XJ12 go under the hammer at Brooklands this Saturday...

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One hundred and eighty classic cars are going under the hammer at Brooklands Museum this Saturday, but three of them in particular have caught our eye. Under admittedly sombre circumstances, a trio of low mileage Lister Jaguars will be up for auction following the death of their previous owner, but what an automotive legacy to leave behind.

First up, we have one of 20 Lister Jaguar XJS Coupes. Producing 612hp from its Lister-fettled Jaguar V12, the XJS is capable of 0-60 in 3.6 seconds, with 100mph coming up in just 10.8. Impressive figures even today, but even more so coming from a 28 year-old car with a five-speed manual gearbox! It looks to be in immaculate condition too, as it ought to be with just 3,354 miles on the clock, and has an estimate of £70,000-£80,000.

Next up is a Lister Jaguar XJ12. Back in 1993 a Lister conversion for this car cost £70,000, £28,000 of which went on uprating the twin-turbocharged V12, with the rest going towards improvements like the 18-inch wheels, Brembo brakes and bespoke interior. This car, too, appears to be in fantastic shape, having travelled only 14,000 miles since new and is estimated at a very enticing £30,000-£40,000.

You'll have seen from the pictures that we have, of course, saved the best for last. The final car in the set is an ultra-rare 1994 Lister Storm. One of just four road-going examples ever produced, it's one of only three known to still exist today. When new, the Storm's 7.0-litre Jaguar V12, aluminium monocoque and carbon-Kevlar construction made it the fastest road car in the world, with a top speed of 211mph.

It has, understandably, seen rather a lot more action than the other two cars, having covered 30,000 miles in the 24 years since it was built. When new, it cost a staggering £220,000, and is now estimated at £145,000-£165,000, which sounds like a lot of money. But remember, it's 2018, so that for that amount you could, if it sells on estimate, have either a one-of-three Lister Storm and £25,000 in change, or a left-hand drive BMW Z8...

The full auction is due to be held this Saturday, May 19th, at Brooklands Museum, with two viewing days preceding it on Thursday and Friday. And while we're on the subject of Lister Storms, check out the below video of Tiff Needell with his racing version for a reminder of just how bonkers they really were - it's displayed in nearly the same 90's aspect ratio as PH's photos, so you know it's good.

 

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[RumbleOfThunder]

Epic cars, the lot of them. That XJ in particular looks like relative good value! The Storm is a bit of a munter tbh, I'd never seen the non GT racer before.

[kainedog]

I’ll take the xjs, those wheels are porn. That storm looks awful , it’s wheels are lost in its arches , the dashboard looks stolen from something else as do the rear lights Audi 80? Rapid though

[Dave Hedgehog]

yes please

[Krikkit]

The perfect 3-car garage? Gorgeous, the lot of 'em.

[defblade]

I'll have the XJ, please. "Wolf in sheep's clothing"? Wolf in shark clothing, more like

[Xcore]

Being 1 of 3 isn’t the storm a relative bargain for collectors?!

[DanielSan]

How did the Storm race car look so good and the road car so terrible?

[pSyCoSiS]

That XJS is one of my dream cars. Look at those wheels, the arches and the mind-blowing performance stats.

That XJ12 is the perfect naughty get-away vehicle.

And, although the Storm has great credentials and indeed rarity, I was never fond if it's looks (that Venturi is much better looking!).

[1781cc]

Love that XJS - oh yeah

[Usget]

So did Limp Bizkit rip off whatever tune is in the background of that Tiff Needell video, or was it added later?!

[HardtopManual]

Not really feeling any of those. I prefer the looks of the standard XJS, the Storm is a complete munter next to the GT car and the XJ12 looks like a drug dealer's wheels.

[Sandpit Steve]

Yes please. I’ll stick my neck out and say now that those three estimates are all going to get blown away on the night.

[oilit]

Sandpit Steve said:

Yes please. I’ll stick my neck out and say now that those three estimates are all going to get blown away on the night.

Its good we are all different !!

IMHO there is a reason they are rare - because all three are pig ugly

[JMF894]

I can see why there are only 3 Storms in existence

[richomk6]

Maybe its because I loved the racecars from FIA GT back in the day but I like the Storm-its not classically beautiful but its attractive enough that I'd buy that if I had the money. Maybe because its just so unique even with those tail lights and the interior. That engine helps too.

Does anyone know what happened to the fourth road car? Was it crashed?

[f1ten]

The storm was able to do 200mph back in 1994. It was proper HyperCar stuff way ahead of the game compared to let's say a 964 911 turbo of the day.

[huckster6]

Usget said:

So did Limp Bizkit rip off whatever tune is in the background of that Tiff Needell video, or was it added later?!

Watching the sketch about the Lister Storm reminds me that Tiff Needell was quite a good presenter. A little pedestrian in his delivery, but he has a very good pedigree.
I liked 5th Gear, and still wish they'd make a new version, preferably using the same presenters..

[Gameface]

f1ten said:

The storm was able to do 200mph back in 1994. It was proper HyperCar stuff way ahead of the game compared to let's say a 964 911 turbo of the day.

RUF's were doing over 210 mph years before.

[sideways man]

Love that XJ12! Lister were always 'over the top' in the styling department even in their time, definitely marmite cars.

Great Tiff video, that storm is a real beast when only going down a runway. Le Mans must have been exhausting.

[Macboy]

The XJS and Storm are eye-wateringly hideous. Comically so. They are the kind of thing you see pictured in a newspaper with a teacher and a group of students standing proudly behind after six-month of dedicated after-school club attendance.