What's the news?
Three years ago Lister Motor Company announced a continuation run of ten 'Knobbly' sports racing car. That production run sold out but the company has announced the Knobbly Stirling Moss Edition, a recreation of the 'works' specification cars, which will be officially launched by the man himself at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance on Saturday 20th August. Like the first run of new Listers, production is limited to ten examples.
Relatively speaking plenty of Lister Knobblys from the 1950s still exist and race today; these are all customer cars, none of the original works racers survive. The factory cars enjoyed lightweight construction with magnesium bodywork to ensure they had a competitive advantage; a feature is recreated on the Stirling Moss model; in addition, the engine sump, clutch housing and differential casing are made from the lightweight metal. Each car will be painted Lister's yellow and green racing colours and will carry a plaque signed by Sir Stirling Moss, who will hand over each car to its new owner.
Differences from the original recreations include the 'Long Wing' front end that is more aerodynamic and a chassis that uses thinner steel for the main tubes. Working the magnesium for the body takes around 12-18 weeks, about three times as long as forming aluminium, and each car is constructed on the same jigs as the original 1950s cars. Power comes from a 3.8-litre straight six produced by Crosthwaite and Gardiner. With only 841kg to move the Knobbly Stirling Moss edition is said to do 0-60mph in less than four seconds. A further six seconds will see the Lister doing 100mph with the potential for 188mph flat out.
This is only the second time Stirling Moss has put his name to a car. Stirling drove for the Lister works team at Silverstone in 1958 and won.
Sir Stirling Moss said; "The Knobbly remains one of my favourite racing cars. I remember getting into it in 1958 and thinking 'who is going to beat me in this?' At the time I knew they were quick but I never realised, until now, that they were so different to the customer cars.
Prospective buyers will need to find $1 million and be prepared to register their interest quickly. According to Lister Motor Company, several deposits have already been taken.