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A little while back, we featured a red modified Jaguar XJS that spent some time at a joint Jaguar-TWR shop named JaguarSport and emerged as the XJR-S.
Today we have a look at another possible direction one can go when modifying an XJS. Presenting the Lister-Jaguar Le Mans.
The Lister family started out in engineering in 1890, when George Lister Engineering was founded. The automotive portion of the George Lister Engineering company was founded by Brian Lister in 1954. Lister was a racing driver who decided to put his knowledge to good use. He began developing modified versions of sports cars from Jaguar and Bristol, then took them racing.
Experiencing success in races across Europe (with Stirling Moss piloting their racing car, known as the Knobbly), the company wound down its activities by the early 1960s, going quiet for some time. That is, until its sale in 1986.
After being sold to engineering entrepreneur Laurence Pearce by Brian Lister and his sons, the engineer embarked upon a commercial rebirth for the brand. Enter Le Mans.
A lot more modified and a little more rare the the XJR-S, the Le Mans was built by Lister at its Leatherhead, England factory. Part of a run of cars beginning in 1986, this 1990 model is one of just 90 examples.
Unlike the XJR-S, which utilized the 6.0-liter Jaguar V12 as a starting point, the Le Mans kept the old 5.3-liter unit throughout production. The company immediately bored displacement out to six liters and added four additional fuel injectors. The crew fiddled with the engine management to get more power, and some internals were provided by Cosworth for extra sports measure.
The end result? The V12 now produced 482 horsepower, rocketing the coupe to over 200 miles per hour. Suspension and braking were both thoroughly reworked as well, along with that additional fat bodywork to cover up the huge tires.
The interior was re-trimmed in the bright red over parchment we see here. Recaro seats hide beneath those hides, and the scarlet carpeting seems all too fitting for the extreme exterior. Note the very non-XJS manual transmission.
According to Silverstone Auctions, there was a more extreme version of the Le Mans: 25 owners sent their standard 6.0-liter Le Mans cars back to Lister, where the engine was upgraded to a 7.0-liter V12. Cor!
The success of the Le Mans would lead Lister to produce a new racing car and accompanying homologation units in the early 1990s — the Storm (this is a separate Rare Rides). The company changed hands again in 2013, becoming part of the Warrantywise company. In 2016 Lister started production of exact-specification Knobblys, complete with personal delivery by Stirling Moss. He delivered the cars until he retired from public appearances in January 2018.
Today’s rare beast is located in the tax shelter of Luxembourg, and is yours for $61,505. Have your Swiss bank account info handy?
[Images via seller]
Stirling Moss, Le Mans, Jaguar 12 cylinder, manual transmission.
If I win the lottery tonight, you know who will be bidding on that car.
And love the ‘car phone’.
It is “small.”
What a nightmare under the hood!
Think of the brittle hoses and clips everywhere.
“Note the very non-XJS manual transmission.” I do believe there was a manual trans option at the time.
I just want to smell the leather on those seats.
Don’t be surprised if you start talking MUCH MUCH faster after you do!
Maybe start doing imitations of Matthew McConaughey in “Wolf of Wall Street.”
I’ve wondered if this company is any relation to Lister-Bell Automotive. They produce a replicar of the Lancia Stratos from the 70’s. Unlike most kits/replicars, it is probably better built than the original. The homologation streetable originals went from unsellable in the 80’s to half a mega-buck now. The replicar version ain’t cheap either – $65K or so. With a Toyota V-6 at least you wouldn’t worry about repairs or sourcing parts for a Dino V-6.
How long would it take (if ever) to get used to shifting with the left hand and with first gear away from you instead of close to you?
Not long. Most rental cars in Europe are manual transmission.
First time, I was jet lagged, jumped into a VW Polo (or similar) and had to drive for 2 1/2 hours, with a map on my lap and learning how to handle traffic circles (roundabouts).
Continental Europe = LHD
UK = RHD
It took me a lot longer to look in the right direction for the rear view mirrors than it did to shift effectively when we rented a manual transmission Hyundai diesel wagon for in England/Wales castle tour a few years ago.
You get used to it quickly as the gear pattern and pedals are the same. Remembering to keep left and making turns at intersections is the hard part, especially in remote areas where there’s little traffic and you go into a town or you have to meet at a passing point on one-lane roads.
Can it be had with left hand drive?
Whenever I see the electrical wiring and fuel lines on a Jaguar V12, I nearly have a panic attack.
It’s easy to find the faults; just pour water on it and follow the sparks, which in turn help you find the leaks.
Would it help a flash lad like myself meet a saucy tart?
Wink wink, nudge nudge, say no more.
Love that they retained the walnut dash and power steering :)
I like that too. Furious power, still luxury.