1959 Lister Costin Jaguar

£ 275 000
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Overview

  • Built to exact period specifications by Jaguar specialists, Pearsons Engineering
  • Inspected and fully sanctioned by Lister Cars in November 2016
  • Provided with an official Lister chassis number (with suffix ‘S’ denoting sanction)
  • Fitted with the latest Crosthwaite and Gardiner Jaguar XK engine
  • 370 bhp, ‘straight-six’ engine with wide-angle head and high-lift camshafts
  • Qualified on pole position for Plateau 3 during the 2018 Le Mans Classic
  • A proven race winner in the prestigeous Pall Mall Cup
  • Ready to run, fresh from a rebuild by Pearsons Engineering ahead of 2020 season
  • Eligible for Motor Racing Legends’ Stirling Moss Trophy, Goodwood Members' Meeting, Peter Auto’s Gentleman Challenge*, Le Mans Classic and more


Background

A trained engineer and amateur racing driver, Brian Lister became a race car constructor in 1954. The Lister Motor Company initially produced Bristol and Maserati-engined sports racers. Stepping up to Jaguar XK power turned the Listers into front-running competition cars. The ultimate evolution came in 1959 when Lister combined the successful Jaguar-powered underpinnings with a very slippery body penned by aerodynamicist Frank Costin.


Like its aptly nick-named 'Knobbly' predecessor, the Lister Costin was built around a proprietary tube-frame chassis constructed of steel. Double-wishbone independent suspension was fitted at the front, while the rear used a sophisticated DeDion axle. Girling disc brakes provided the stopping power. Depending on the intended market, the Lister chassis could be fitted with a Jaguar D-Type derived straight-six or a Chevrolet V8 from the Corvette.


While the preceding Knobbly Lister performed very well on shorter tracks, its curvaceous body created excessive drag on faster circuits with long straights.


Using his experience working for the de Havilland Aircraft Company, Frank Costin had become the go-to engineer for slippery, aerodynamically efficient shapes and had already worked with Colin Chapman to design the body of the 1958 World Constructors' Championship winning Vanwall Grand Prix car. For Lister, he penned an alloy body that was lower, longer and above all smoother than the Knobbly it replaced.


Following Jaguar's withdrawal from sports car racing, many top-level privateer teams switched to Listers. Among them were the likes of Ecurie Ecosse and Briggs Cunningham. Lister built twelve Costin-bodied sports cars, most of which were raced at major events around the world. Capable of exceeding 180 mph, the Listers were limited only in international events by the newly established three-litre displacement. In this configuration, the Jaguar XK-engine struggled. 


Thanks to their formidable performance, the Lister sports racers have become hugely popular and successful historic racers. With only 12 original examples of the Lister Costin to go around, it has been a popular continuation subject. These were built to exact period specifications to ensure eligibility for historic racing. Only the finest of these were sanctioned by Brian Lister and Lister Cars. These received an official Lister chassis number with additional 'S' to show it was sanctioned.


This Car

Chassis No. BHL 183S

The story of this Lister Costin Jaguar starts with another British sports car specialist, Pearsons Engineering. Established by John Pearson during the 1960s, Pearsons Engineering has a wealth of experience restoring, preparing and racing Jaguar and Jaguar-powered sports racers. In addition to working on existing Jaguar C-Types, D-Types and numerous Listers, Pearsons set about producing this Costin to exact specifications, which was accordingly awarded with the 'Sanction II' status by Lister Cars and issued an official chassis number.


Completed late in 2016, chassis BHL 183S was the result of a meticulous 18-month process. The chassis and bodywork were built in-house by Pearsons Engineering and was fitted with a 3.8-litre Jaguar XK engine built by revered specialists Crosthwaite and Gardiner. Built to the latest specifications, it features a Pearsons Engineering wide-angle cylinder head and a triple Weber carburettor setup. In this guise, the straight-six unit is good for 370 bhp at 7,800 rpm. The Lister Costin was finished in dark metallic blue to which two white racing stripes were later added.


On November 30, 2016, the Lister Costin Jaguar was presented to Lister Cars. Following a thorough inspection, it was given the Sanction II status and stamped chassis BHL 183S. It was subsequently sold to its first private owner, a prominent collector that has multiple Le Mans winning sports racers in his vast stable. The car remained with Pearsons Engineering, who prepared the Lister for historic racing. In 2017, it was raced in Portimao and Donington in the Motor Racing Legends Stirling Moss Trophy.


In 2018, it was entered in the Le Mans Classic for Gary Pearson, Andrew Smith and Carlos Monteverde. They secured pole position in Plateau 3, underlining the performance potential of this Lister Costin. This was affirmed at the 2021 Pall Mall Cup three-hour race at Silverstone where it scored an outright victory while in subsequent ownership. In 2022, a class victory was scored in the same race, held this time at Donington.


Only raced a handful of times since completion and fastidiously maintained, this Lister Costin Jaguar is a welcome and hugely competitive entrant in a wide variety of events, including the Le Mans Classic, HSC Daytona and Sebring classic events, Motor Racing Legends Stirling Moss Trophy and the Goodwood Members' Meeting.


Certification & Mileage


Historic Technical Passport:

  • Issuer: FIA
  • Expiry Date: 31st December 2032

Engine Life:

  • Last Rebuild: 2020 by Pearson Engineering
  • Current Engine Mileage: 10 hours
  • Recommended Engine Rebuild Interval: Intervals of 22 hours, as advised by Pearson Engineering

Gearbox:

  • Gearbox was stripped and inspected in 2020 by Pearson Engineering

Seatbelt Certification:

  • Expiry Date: 2025


Technical Specification


  • Chassis: Steel tubular frame
  • Engine: 3,781cc, 12-valve, DOHC, naturally aspirated Jaguar XK straight-six
  • Gearbox: Jaguar/Moss GBD Series/D-Type, 4-speed manual
  • Front suspension: Double wishbones, coil springs over adjustable dampers, anti-roll bar
  • Rear suspension: De-Dion axle, coil springs over adjustable dampers
  • Brakes: Girling steel discs (inboard at the rear)
  • Tyres: Dunlop (treaded)


Eligibility


Le Mans Classic – Plateau 3

This biennial event is one of the most anticipated events on the historic racing calendar. The Plateau 3 race is for cars which competed at Le Mans between 1957 and 1961. The grid features a wide range of sports and GT cars from this period, with a total of three races across the events. Held on the full-length Circuit de la Sarthe, the next edition of which is in July 2025.

Goodwood Members Meeting – Salvadori Cup

The Salvadori Cup is for world championship sportscars built between 1955 and 1960. Held at the Goodwood Motor Circuit, this event next takes place in April 2026.

Motor Racing Legends – Stirling Moss Trophy

For sportscars built after 1956 and before 1961, the Stirling Moss Trophy holds races in several events across Europe. Organised by Motor Racing Legends, the series goes to a number of iconic circuits, including Spa-Francorchamps and Silverstone.

Peter Auto - The Gentlemen Challenge

The Gentlemen Challenge is a series of events across Europe for cars that competed in endurance racing in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Organised by Peter Auto, the series visits several iconic circuits, including Spa-Francorchamps, Imola, and Paul Ricard. Though eligible, this car’s entry into the events of this series would be up to the discretion of the event organisers.


Location & Tax Status


Car Location: this car is located at our Petersfield showrooms in Hampshire, United Kingdom where viewings are welcome by appointment.

Taxes: UK


Sam Says

“Lister Jaguars rightly remain a hugely popular option for historic racers and, having been fortunate to win several races over the years in various examples, I can see why: lithe, nimble and exhilarating but sufficiently challenging on the limit to demand your full attention, a well-executed lap in a Lister is deeply satisyfing. That these cars are also so elegant, competitive and eligible for just about everything makes for a very compelling package.”