1959 LISTER JAGUAR KNOBBLY

Lister Jaguar Knobbly - The little English girl with the big teeth.

In the late 1950s, the world of motor racing was dominated by giants like Ferrari, Maserati and Aston Martin: Ferrari, Maserati, Aston Martin... However, in a small workshop in Cambridge, an artisan builder called Brian Lister had a bold dream: to beat the big boys on their own turf, with much more modest means.

The beginnings - A craftsman up against the giants
Brian Lister, the son of an industrialist, developed a passion for mechanics at an early age. After a few MG and Bristol-engined prototypes, he realised that he needed a more powerful engine to take on the big boys in the Sport category. That's where Jaguar came in. The Coventry-based company, which had already won the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the D-Type, agreed to supply Lister with its legendary XK six-cylinder engine.
The combination was explosive: an ultra-light tubular chassis, aerodynamic bodywork designed by Frank Costin, and a reliable, powerful engine. The Lister Jaguar Knobbly was born in 1957.

"Knobbly", an affectionate nickname
There was nothing official about the name. In the paddocks, people started talking about this 'knobbly' Lister because of its rounded shape and prominent wings. The bumps on the bonnet and around the wheels are not there for style's sake: they cover the suspension and mechanical parts, designed solely with aerodynamic and mechanical efficiency in mind. The nickname 'Knobbly' will live on forever.

A dazzling success story
In 1958, the Lister Knobbly established itself as the lethal weapon of sports car racing in the United Kingdom. Archie Scott Brown, an exceptionally talented driver despite his physical handicap, won race after race with this machine. He won one race after another in England and impressed on the continent.
Other big names took to the wheel: Masten Gregory, Stirling Moss, Ivor Bueb, Innes Ireland... All praised the precision of its steering, the strength of its engine and its stability in corners. On many British circuits, the Knobbly is virtually unbeatable.

Drama and a turning point
Glory was overshadowed by tragedy, however. In May 1958, during a race at Spa-Francorchamps, Archie Scott Brown was killed in an accident. This tragedy deeply affected Brian Lister, who lost his star driver and friend. Although the team continued to enter cars, the momentum was lost.
In 1959, the regulations changed and the competition became fiercer. Lister tried to adapt with an even more streamlined body ("Costin" model), but costs rose. At the end of 1959, Lister's adventure in official competition came to an end.

Glory intact
Even though it was withdrawn from the official starting grid, the Knobbly never fell into oblivion. Collectors have preserved a few examples, conscious of owning a piece of history. Each car, often hand-built and slightly different, has become a cult object.

The comeback - The renaissance of the Knobbly
In the 1990s, passion for historic racing exploded. Lister Knobbly cars reappeared on the racetracks at events such as the Goodwood Revival and Le Mans Classic. The public rediscovered their unique silhouette, their throaty growl and their feline agility.
In response to this popularity, Lister Cars decided to relaunch production in 2014. Ten continuation cars are built according to the plans, templates and methods of the period: tubular chassis, hand-hammered aluminium bodywork, prepared Jaguar XK engine. Even the sound is faithful to that of 1958.

A legend still alive
Today, whether it's an original or an official continuation, the Lister Knobbly continues to race. It can be seen wheel-to-wheel with Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa, Maserati 300S or Aston Martin DBR1, as if time had stood still.
For those lucky enough to drive it, it's a raw experience: no electronic assistance, no compromises, just pure mechanics and talent behind the wheel. A lesson in old-fashioned driving, where every corner is earned by sweat and precision.
The Lister Jaguar Knobbly is more than a car: it's a symbol. A symbol of British audacity in the face of the big manufacturers, a symbol of the golden age of motor sport when creativity and courage could beat financial resources.
And as long as we see it emerge from a cloud of dust when braking at Woodcote or roar through the night of the Le Mans Classic, we'll know that this little English car with big teeth has never really left racing.

Lister Jaguar BHL 20 - 442 PPP

A survivor with an unbroken history.
Among the rare Listers produced between 1954 and 1959, the BHL 20 chassis occupies a singular place. One of the last generation of 'little Listers', it was sold naked in 1959 to officer James MacKreth. It was initially fitted with MG engines and registered 442 PPP on 7 October 1960.
Three years later, its destiny changed: David A. Knobbs replaced the modest MG engine with a Jaguar 3.4-litre six-cylinder, entrusting tuner Ken Eaton with the metamorphosis of the chassis. Under his expert hands, the BHL 20 shed its frail appearance to become a true Lister Knobbly Jaguar, ready to compete with the big boys.
Competition soon left its mark on the car's bodywork: in the late 1960s, a road accident seriously destroyed the car, which was relegated to the sidelines for a time. But in 1974, Jeremy Broad, a well-known figure among Jaguar XKs, set about resurrecting it. Once again entrusted to Ken Eaton, it was fitted with a Jaguar 3.8-litre E-Type engine and returned to the racetrack. In 1976, during the Prescott Hillclimb, bad luck struck again when Broad hit a tree, bending the chassis heavily.
This long enforced sleep, punctuated by a succession of bodywork changes - some dubious, others genuine Williams & Pritchard - never altered the car's continuity. The arrival of a genuine factory body, revealing the original paintwork underneath, established the BHL 20's identity once and for all.
In 2005, Broad finally sold the car to Trevor GROOM, a good friend of Norman DEWIS and a well-known figure in Jaguar racing circles, who gave it a meticulous restoration in its ultimate Lister Jaguar Knobbly configuration, with its original chassis, authentic components (fuel tanks, Girling brakes, Dunlop wheels, dashboard) and official papers, including the precious period buff log book.
It then changed hands and came to France via us, where it had several owners, all of whom entered it in the Le Mans Classic, among other events.
The last owner undertook a meticulous restoration of the bodywork to revive its shape and give it the lustre it wears today. Completely overhauled before Le Mans Classic 2025, it is ready to take to the track.
Today, the BHL 20 is unanimously recognised as the only chassis legitimately bearing this number, its history having been confirmed by Doug Nye himself and clarified in the face of confusion on the part of certain authors. It is a regular on the most prestigious historic grids: Le Mans Classic, support for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, and FIA championships dedicated to sports-protos from the 1950s.

An undeniable pedigree
- Original BHL 20 chassis with 442 PPP registration number
- Jaguar conversion by Ken Eaton in 1963
- Successive owners : James MacKreth, David A. Knobbs, John Harper, Jeremy Broad, Trevor Groom, current owner in France.
- Major accidents and documented rebuilds (late 1960s, Prescott 1976)
- Knobbly Williams & Pritchard bodywork with traces of factory paintwork
- Period documents (log book, modern V5C, FIA/MSA passport)
- Regular presence at major historic events

Conclusion
The Lister Jaguar Knobbly is more than a car: it is a symbol. A symbol of British daring in the face of the big manufacturers, a symbol of the golden age of motor sport when creativity and courage could beat financial resources.
And as long as we see it rise from a cloud of dust when braking at Woodcote or roar through the night of the Le Mans Classic, we'll know that this little English car with big teeth has never really left racing.
More than just a racing car, the BHL 20 is a living witness to the Lister adventure: a chaotic but uninterrupted trajectory, punctuated by shocks and rebirths, which today makes it one of the most authentic and legitimate examples of the Lister Jaguar Knobbly saga.