Back in January 2015 Lister confirmed its original batch of 10 Knobbly Jaguars had been sold, promising additional cars in the future. Here's our first look at that (retro) future, the Lister Knobbly Stirling Moss Edition.
Worried it's just a badge engineering exercise to cash in on a famous name? Don't be, as it's far more interesting than that. Where the Knobblys produced in 2014 were aluminium bodied, the panels on this car are made entirely of magnesium. Not only does this reduce weight over aluminium by 30 per cent, it also makes the Lister the only car in world to have a completely magnesium body.
It celebrates the fact that Moss raced in a magnesium-bodied lightweight Lister back in the 50s, when Brian Lister was searching for additional performance through reduced weight. As none of the five cars built then have survived, these 10 aim to replicate the originals as closely as possible. To that end and on top of the magnesium body, it uses a tubular chassis made with 16 gauge steel (rather than the thicker 14 gauge used in the 'regular' continuation Knobblys) and also the Long Wing Design front wings for better aerodynamics.
While the straight-six is identical in design to the other Knobbly Listers, this Stirling Moss car also uses a magnesium block and sump. The claimed stats are very exciting: 341hp may not sound a great deal, but the car weighs just 841kg. Lister says it's capable of 184mph, with 60mph passing in less than four seconds and 100 in less than 10.
All of the Stirling Moss Editions will be painted green and yellow, with customers able to specify if they want a race (with full FIA HTP passport) or road version. Interior colours are up to them also. Each car receives an interior plaque signed by Sir Stirling, plus a handover of the car by the man himself. This is, remember, just the second car ever made to bear his name, the first being - 10 PH points if you know it - the Mercedes SLR Stirling Moss of 2009.
And the cost for this very rare, very light, made-using-the-same-jig-as-the-original recreation? One million pounds, on account of the magnesium being a lot more expensive and challenging to work with than aluminium. Lister says it has already taken "several" deposits, with the first car due next autumn. Wonder if Lord March will let one race at Revival?