1959 Lister Knobbly

The Lister Motor Company was founded in 1954 by racing driver Brian Lister. Lister first experimented with MG based cars, driven by Archie Scott Brown. In 1957 an all-new car was developed around the infamous Jaguar D-Type straight-six XK engine which brought the first taste of success for Lister and Scott Brown.

The company went on to produce some of the most competitive and recognisable sports and racing cars in the world. Most notably built between 1957 and 1959 was the Lister Knobbly. The nickname was derived from the unique aerodynamic, but equally lightweight, aluminium body panels that were mounted on top of a lightweight tubular chassis.

In 2014, the Lister Motor company announced production of the continuation Lister Knobbly to celebrate the companies 60th anniversary. Built in the George Lister engineering facility, the cars were to be exact tool room copies using original jigs, drawings and employees from the period. Each assigned correct ‘BHL’ chassis numbers, the cars offered the entire Lister Knobbly ownership and driving experience in what was a brand-new car. The cars were entirely hand made. From the aluminium body panels rolled on the English wheel, to the Jaguar 3.8 litre wide angled head race engines. The vehicles were built so accurately that FIA papers can be granted for use in historic racing.

If the Lister Knobbly was not a rare car already, then chassis 'BHL160C' offered for sale here is arguably one of a kind. This particular car is fitted with a one-off unique continuation body based on one of the most successful original cars, YOB 575. The original period Lister ‘YOB 575’ was CAD scanned allowing the perfect and most accurate reproduction of its unique aluminium body shape which included lower, longer wings, dual bonnet air intakes, rear ventilated panel and the rear fuel tank panels (A period extra allowing the use of either a long or short range fuel tank).

Upon completion of the body and chassis the car was delivered to Riedling and Mouser, leading historic Jaguar racing engineers. The car was built to a top, competitive racing specification which included a purpose built 325bhp (at the wheels) engine and period correct 45 DCO3 Triple Weber carburettors. Fresh FIA HTP papers were granted which remain valid until 2027.

This Lister has been built and maintained with a no expense sparred attitude and is truly ‘one of a kind’. Having been campaigned in 2025 by Hilton & Moss with great success, this Knobbly is ready to race at a competitive level. Entries this year included the Donington Historic Festival in the Stirling Moss Trophy where the car qualified 7th overall, driven by historic racing driver Tim Crighton, with a lap time of 1:51.649. In the race, the car would place 4th overall and second in class, just 0.434 seconds behind third place after a hard-fought battle in the last few laps, in what proved to be a very competitive field. The cars fastest race lap was 1:51.175.

Later in the year, Hilton & Moss ran the car at the Silverstone Festival, again in the Stirling Moss Trophy. The car would qualify 13th overall after a tough session, setting a lap time of 2:29.411, and go on to finish in 5th place overall, and 3rd in class with Tim Crighton at the wheel once again. The fastest race lap was 2:26.509 and the car finished the race as the second fastest Knobbly on track.

Ready to continue racing, this Knobbly is ready for immediate entry into the historic racing calendar and is proven as a competitive machine. Hilton & Moss can provide the new owner with a complete support package, including vehicle setup, maintenance, transport and running of the car at race meetings and events, as well as storage, driver tuition and management and much more within our Motorsports Department.

Highly eligible for a range of the most prestigious competitions in the 2026 historic motorsport calendar and beyond, including:

• Goodwood Members Meeting
• Motor Racing Legends - Stirling Moss Trophy
• Peter Auto - The Gentlemen Cup
• Le Mans Classic
• GT & Sportscar Cup
• Equipe - 1950s
• HSR (US) - Group 2

Available for immediate viewing at our Hertfordshire showrooms, on track demonstration can also be arranged upon application.

Please contact the team for further assistance and information on this fantastic race car.