1958
Lister
Jaguar
Sports
Racer
The
Jaguar
D-Type
sports
racer
was
a
very
dominate
machine
due
to
its
excellent
performance
and
handling
characteristics.
As
such,
there
was
a
strong
demand
from
Jaguar
to
continue
to
produce
sports
cars.
In
1957
a
fire
at
a
factory
and
Jaguar's
withdrawal
from
racing
saw
the
production
of
the
D-Type
come
to
a
close.
As
a
result,
others
stepped
in
to
produce
racers
based
on
Jaguar
components.
One
of
the
more
successful
of
these
creations
was
designed
and
built
by
Brian
Lister.
His
first
racers
came
on
the
scene
in
1954
and
often
competed
against
stiff
competition
such
as
the
Aston
Martins
and
Jaguar
D-Types.
Archie
Scott-Brown
was
one
of
the
more
memorable
drivers
who
piloted
the
Lister
built
machines
to
many
podium
finishes
and
dominated
the
British
racing
car
scene
in
1957,
winning
11
out
of
the
14
races.
The
1957
Lister/Jaguar
machine
was
constructed
of
a
light-weight
steel
space
frame
chassis
and
bodied
in
an
aluminum
body.
Its
body
was
lump
and
thus
it
was
given
the
nickname
'Knobbly'.
Development
continued
throughout
the
years
with
a
total
of
seventeen
examples
being
created
with
most
going
to
the
United
States.
The
first
two
examples
were
built
for
the
legendary
American
sportsman,
Briggs
Cunningham.
Seven
examples
were
delivered
to
Jim
Hall
and
Carrol
Shelby
who
outfitted
them
with
Chevrolet
power-plants.
As
the
story
goes
BHL
113
was
purchased
by
Leroy
Edwards
in
the
70's
at
an
automotive
swap
meet
near
Dallas
Texas.
It
sold
to
Mark
Davies
(UK)
and
shipping
papers
show
BHL113
was
shipped
from
Houston
Texas
to
the
UK
on
February
22,2013.
Metallurgical
testing
which
used
samples
from
this
chassis
and
2
other
documented
chassis
from
the
original
17
produced,
verified
that
the
metals
matched
in
contents
thus,
providing
supporting
evidence,
BHL113
is
a
valid
chassis.
There
have
been
rumored
stories
floating
around
about
Brian
Lister
being
superstitious
and
avoided
the
use
of
the
number
13,
however
these
are
unverified.
Exterior
Noted
collector
Terry
Larson
from
Mesa,
Arizona
was
the
coordinator
of
this
build,
where
a
new
company
has
in
their
possession
the
original
bucks
from
the
Lister
Company.
At
this
location
a
new
body
was
painstaking
pounded
out
of
thin
aluminum
just
as
the
race
cars
were
in
1957-58.
This
new
body
was
then
shipped
back
to
Terry
Larson
where
it
was
finished
off
in
a
beautiful
black
gloss,
and
received
the
remaining
treatment
including
mating
correct
magnesium
wheels
with
Dunlop
Racing
600
tires
in
the
front
and
650's
on
the
rear.
Interior
The
current
owner/consigner
requested
that
the
interior
be
fitted
with
a
bit
more
luxury
that
what
the
race
car
would
have
been,
so
a
fine
grade
of
racing
green
padded
leather
adorns
most
of
the
open
right
hand
drive
cockpit.
A
chronometric
tachometer,
and
various
other
knobs
switches
and
small
gauges
sit
within
a
black
dash.
This
is
fronted
by
a
billet
style
lightweight
steering
wheel
which
is
finished
off
in
walnut
wood.
A
tripod
permanent
mounted
center
mirror
sits
atop
the
dash
and
helps
with
vibration
dampening
when
viewing
what's
aft
within
the
mirror.
Drivetrain
Famed
engine
builder
Bill
Terry
could
not
salvage
the
original
engine
block
which
was
the
victim
of
a
thrown
rod,
and
a
new
block
was
used.
However,
the
original
Cunningham
twin
plug
wide
angle
head,
was
used
after
being
carefully
machined.
This
head
sports
wider
valve
openings,
and
dual
plug
cylinders
to
ensure
the
burning
of
as
much
mixture
as
possible
on
each
stroke.
A
comfortable
5-speed
transmission
has
been
mated
with
this
racing
power
plant
and
is
noted
that
this
combination
can
run
very
nicely
at
lower
RPM.
Testing
reveals
that
this
slightly
de-tuned
version
will
produce
340HP.
Undercarriage
The
lightweight
steel
space
frame
chassis
is
pristine.
Various
other
racing
innovations
can
be
seen
such
as
inboard
rear
disc
brakes,
and
adjustable
chassis,
standard
disc
brakes
in
front,
and
riveted
aluminum
sheeting
for
the
majority
of
the
undercarriage
to
help
with
aerodynamic
efficiency.
Also
noted
is
the
use
of
all
braided
stainless
steel
tubing
for
oil
and
hydraulic
brakes,
and
low
tech
wood
used
as
fill
at
various
locations
underneath.
This
beautiful
example
which
is
FIA
Approved,
and
has
its
Heritage
Sticker
(original
block
has
been
retained)
and
is
definitely
built
to
be
a
driver.
The
consigner
states
that
a
1,000
mile
shakedown
through
the
mountains
of
Montana
was
driven
when
the
car
was
finished,
and
there
were
no
problems
(except
for
hoping
the
Dunlops
would
grab
in
the
corners!).
An
interesting
story,
and
some
real
maneuvers
were
gone
through
to
put
BHL
113
back
on
the
road/track,
and
back
to
life.
A
lack
of
any
racing
heritage
brings
the
value
lower
than
its
16
other
counterparts,
however
the
attention
to
detail,
and
keeping
with
the
original
spirit,
is
out
there
for
the
Jaguar
collector
or
Lister
aficionado
at
a
very
fair
price.