Motoring: Golden oldies inspired by JLR Heritage Collection

JAGUAR Land Rover’s decision to travel back to the future by using its Heritage Collection as inspiration for a series of special edition racing cars has seen the rebirth of some much-loved motor cars.

Taking its lead from JLR, Lister Motor Company is also producing a special edition of its famous ‘Knobbly’ Jaguars – each of which will command a heavy £1m price tag.

Limited to a run of 10 cars, the Lister Knobbly Jaguar will carry the name of Britain’s most famous racing driver, Sir Stirling Moss.

Each car features a handmade magnesium body and special lightweight specification, in keeping with the ‘works’ racing Knobblys of the 1950s.

These cars follow on from an initial run of 10 aluminium-bodied continuations – now all sold out – production of which began at George Lister Engineering in 2014. Each is built using the same techniques as the original 1950s Knobbly, following the acquisition of Lister Motor Company by Andrew and Lawrence Whittaker in 2013.

The 10 Stirling Moss editions will celebrate the driver’s races for Brian Lister in the ‘works’ racing cars in the 1950s.

While some original Lister Knobblys are still driven in historic racing, none of the original magnesium-bodied ‘works’ cars survive, making this limited run an incredible opportunity for collectors and Lister enthusiasts – providing they’ve deep pockets.

To keep ahead of customer cars and other rivals in the 1950s, Brian Lister reserved a special lightweight specification for his ‘works’ Knobbly racing cars – with one of the main features being a magnesium body.

Magnesium is an exceptional material, lightweight but difficult to source and expensive. It is also time-consuming to work with as it is very hard to form, requiring incredible skill and craftsmanship. As a result, Lister has invested hugely in research and development into how to work with magnesium and produce perfect, hand-turned bodywork.

All 10 Lister Jaguar Knobbly Stirling Moss editions will faithfully feature the same specification as the ‘works’ car with which Sir Stirling won at Silverstone in 1958.

Key features of the Lister Jaguar Knobbly Stirling Moss edition are:
•    Bodyshell manufactured from lightweight magnesium with aerodynamic low-drag Long Wing Design front wings  
•    Engine sump manufactured from magnesium  
•    Clutch and differential casing manufactured from magnesium
•    Lightweight tubular steel chassis
•    Solid sterling silver number plaque 1 to 10 with Sir Stirling Moss’s signature engraved
•    Classic Lister green and yellow paint, matching the original 1950s design

Each one of the 10 owners will receive a handover from Sir Stirling Moss and a personal welcome letter from the legendary racing driver.  

Every Stirling Moss edition will be built at exactly the same factory as the standard lightweight Knobbly: George Lister Engineering in Cambridge. The chassis will be made using exactly the same jig as was used for the first Knobbly, while the bodies will be formed around the same styling buck too.

Customers can choose to have their car in racing specification or as a fully type-approved road car, with a bespoke interior tuned to their individual tastes whatever specification they choose. Historic racing versions will come with a full FIA HTP passport, allowing entry into the Stirling Moss Trophy among other blue riband races on the historic racing calendar.

Lawrence Whittaker, chief executive of Lister Motor Company, said: “The launch of these Stirling Moss editions represents a truly unique opportunity. None of the original magnesium-bodied ‘works’ Lister Knobblys survived from the 1950s, so the fortunate few who get to own a Stirling Moss edition will be getting a period-correct continuation ‘works’ Lister made using the same techniques as the original.

“Secondly, as magnesium is such a difficult-to-source material and requires incredible skill and craftsmanship to form, the Lister Jaguar Knobbly Stirling Moss edition will be the only magnesium-bodied car you can buy – either as a road or racing car – anywhere in the world.

“Thirdly, this is only the second time in history that Sir Stirling Moss has put his name to a car. And this is truly limited run – we are only making 10. Ever. There will be no more. Factor in a personal hand-over from Sir Stirling Moss himself – a true British hero and a man who played a huge role in putting Lister on podiums in the 1950s – and you have an unrivalled, very personal experience. And an instant classic.”

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.  

“These magnesium-bodied continuations redefine the word ‘special’: they are hugely collectible and they will be very fast indeed. They will be winners on the track – just as they were in their day. I’m looking forward to meeting the new owners and seeing some of these amazing cars on the historic racing circuit being driven flat out as there were designed to be.”

First deliveries are expected in autumn next year.

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IT may be my imagination being as it’s Brexit week, but Europe’s carmakers – at least those still in the EU – appear to have been especially active, promoting new models and special editions.

Although some might want to look again at their marketing campaigns, especially our friends on the other side of the Channel.

With all things French currently in vogue, Citroën has launched its new C3 for which it has high hopes.

The supermini has sold more than 3.6 million examples since it was originally launched in 2002 and with the carmaker keen to continue its presence in this key market it has wasted no time spelling out its ambitions.

A nice little car which I expect will be very popular, although the campaign adopted by the manufacturer might make you think twice.

In making the reveal, the company used this headline on its campaign: “The new Citroën Offensive”.

Really?

Offensive!

I’m not sure I’d want to be seen driving around in a car described as unpleasant.

Maybe it got lost in translation – or are they sticking it to us for the vote.

Maybe we should respond.

Jaguar Agincourt anyone?

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