Lister of Cambridge has announced p,ans to make 10 road legal Knobbly sports cars.

• More than 60 years after its race debut, the Lister Motor Company reveals road legal version of its landmark Knobbly
• Lister Knobbly is the first original specification continuation car to be fully eligible for IVA type approval
• Built at George Lister Engineering in Cambridge, using the original chassis jigs
• Three original engineers brought out of retirement to oversee construction
• First deliveries due in June 2018.

The Lister Motor Company has announced the first ever dedicated road-going version of the legendary Lister Knobbly sports racer.

More than 60 years after the original Lister Knobbly first raced, this celebrated competition car – one of the most successful in motor racing history – can finally be driven legally on the public highway.

Uniquely, the Lister Motor Company is the only manufacturer making original specification continuation cars that are eligible for IVA type approval and therefore fully-legal for registration and road use. Other continuation specials built by larger marques are strictly limited to track use only due to the higher volume of the vehicles they produce.

Unlike some ‘replica’ or ‘retro’ sports cars, the Lister Knobbly is not a classic shape on top of modern mechanicals. Beneath its hand-beaten aluminium body is a six-cylinder Jaguar 3.8-litre engine and four-speed gearbox, which is almost identical to the D-Type powerplants fitted in the 1950s.

Engines are built using all-new remanufactured parts around original Jaguar blocks, assembled by experts from Crosthwaite & Gardiner. Despite the ‘old school’ technology the engine is still capable of an impressive 330bhp – enough to power the 787kg Knobbly to 181mph and accelerate from 0-60mph in just 4.3 seconds

The tubular chassis is made from seamless engineering tube using the original jigs, and all welds are pressure tested to ensure integrity. The aluminium body panels alone take around 500 hours to beat into the Knobbly’s distinctive shape.

Commenting on the introduction of the new road legal Lister Knobbly, Lawrence Whittaker, CEO Lister Motor Company, said: “I am really proud and excited that the Lister Motor Company has succeeded by being the first, and to date the only, specialist sports car maker to engineer and launch a fully road legal version of a racing continuation model.

“This is a hugely important step for us, making Lister the first to be able to offer our enthusiastic clients the excitement and thrills of driving a historically significant race car on the road. Our new road legal Knobbly also paves the way for more future road-going Lister models too.”

Just 10 of the new hand-built road-going Lister Knobbly continuation models will be built. Production is due to commence in September 2017 and the first customer deliveries planned for June 2018.

The most notable changes to the road-ready Knobbly, carefully integrated into the original design by Lister’s engineers, are:

• Collapsible steering Column
• Roll over protection
• Indicators, side repeater flashers and rear fog lamp
• Number plates front and rear 
• Padded leather dashbard
• Push button switches
• Removal of wheel spinners for pedestrian safety
• Removal of windscreen, replaced with wind deflector
• Ratchet handbrake
• Rear view mirrors
• Sunken fuel filler cap
• Brake fluid and low fuel level warning lights

A Knobbly fitted with a 4.2-litre 6-Cylinder engine will be priced at £225,000 on-the-road, while a 3.8-litre with Dry Sump will be priced at £295,000.

First of a Sold Out run of all New Lister Knobbly Jaguar's leaves the production line at Lister Cars.

• The first customer ‘Knobbly’ continuation racer has been completed at Lister Cars’ Cambridge factory and is ready for delivery
• Built to the very same specification as the original 1958 ‘Knobbly’ it uses the late Brian Lister’s original drawings and manufacturing jigs
• Metallic silver example is the first of a limited production run of ten cars but overwhelming response means Lister is considering three final special editions

The first of Lister Cars’ reborn ‘Knobbly’ racers has rolled off the production line at the Lister factory in Cambridge. Built to Brian Lister’s original specifications for the 1958 ‘Knobbly’, this customer car is the first of a sold-out production run of ten cars, but overwhelming demand has meant Lister is considering three additional one-off ‘final editions’.

All ‘Knobbly’ models are built to meet relevant FIA racing regulations and are powered by a race-prepared Jaguar D-Type 3.8-litre straight-six, producing 330bhp. Customers are able to compete in a series of historic Lister race meetings taking place in 2015.

This particular ‘Knobbly’ has been finished in a stunning metallic silver with a lustrous dark green leather interior. Like all ‘Knobbly’ continuations, it has incredible performance, capable of accelerating from 0-60mph in 4.3 seconds and on to a top speed of 181mph.

Lister Cars chairman Lawrence Whittaker said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to see the first customer ‘Knobbly’ roll off our production line in Cambridge – it’s a testament to our fantastic team and a fitting tribute to the memory of Brian Lister.”