1958 Lister-Jaguar ‘Knobbly’

We think it probably goes without saying but we don’t have a spare $1m burning a hole in our pockets here at Coolector HQ but if we did you can rest assured we’d likely be spending it on this, quite frankly glorious, 1958 Lister-Jaguar ‘Knobbly’ which is going under the hammer with luxury car specialists, RM Sotheby’s. This glorious machine has a guide price of between $900k-1.2m so whilst it definitely won’t come cheap, it will be the cornerstone of any classic car collection.

The 1958 Lister-Jaguar ‘Knobbly’ from RM Sotheby’s is believed to be the only extant Jaguar-powered Works ‘Knobbly’ so, if you’re the one that is lucky enough to be the new owner when the hammer goes down, you’ll have one of the most exclusive vehicles on the planet in your collection. It was the last of three Knobbly-bodied Works cars built for 1958 and it is presented in a superb condition and decorative order throughout.

Jaw-Dropping Jaguar

RM Sotheby’s always manage to get some of the world’s most exceptional vehicles into their auctions but this 1958 Lister-Jaguar ‘Knobbly’ takes things to a whole new level in our opinion here at The Coolector. Boasting an impressive automotive history, this majestic Jaguar has been driven by Walt Hansgen, Ivor Bueb, and Bruce Halford in 1958 so it will definitely appeal to all the classic car enthusiasts out there. Well, the ones with deep pockets at least.

This 1958 Lister-Jaguat ‘Knobbly’ has been endorsed by the Lister company historian, Robert Edwards, and boasts an extensive historic racing and rally history. Unlike Lister’s previous cars, which were largely built in-house, the new model’s body panels were shaped under contract by Williams and Pritchard and were offered to customers in either aluminium or Elektron (magnesium). Mechanical innovations for this build included inboard Girling disc brakes and a larger fuel tank. With the new Lister’s voluptuous proportions, it was little wonder that the car quickly earned its nickname as the “Knobbly.

The engine compartment is prepared to high standards and is extremely clean and impeccably detailed. The 3.8-litre wide-angle, dry-sump D-Type engine, fitted by Anthony Hutton and John Harper, was built to competition specifications, though it is noted to run well on regular pump gas. The undercarriage gives a look at the car’s sophisticated specification, which includes de Dion rear suspension and disc brakes all around, inboard at the rear. The interior is trimmed to a high quality in leather and boasts an upholstered passenger area and centre console, which makes the vehicle suitable for street use.

Storied History

This spectacular Jaguar comes with extensive documentation and spares package, including period newspaper clippings of the car’s exploits, dozens of prints of it racing in period, and a file of invoices from the restoration and maintenance that has been undertaken. There is also correspondence from several specialists, as well as FIA papers issued in the late 1990s. The spares package includes original fuel and oil tanks, centre section of bonnet without louvers, muffler for street use, noise restrictors, roll bar, spare driver’s bucket seat, tonneau cover, and many other items.

This is an unparalleled opportunity to get your hands on a world-class sports car with an unparalleled history. Highly competitive in period and in vintage racing today, this car is beautifully restored and highly documented. Suitable for both racing and street use, this Lister-Jaguar is a genuine dual-purpose sports racer that is eligible for a wide variety of prestigious driving events.