Having already launched a series of Lister Knobbly Continuation Cars, Lister is now reviving the "Costin" racing car from 1959.
The last Lister racing car of the fifties was the Lister Costin, which was intended to follow in the footsteps of the famous Lister Knobbly. However, the successor to the Lister Knobbly had to be more aerodynamic in order to keep up with its competitors at the time. Brian Lister therefore brought in Frank Costin, the brother of Mike Costin, an aerodynamics specialist. Prior to his collaboration with Lister, Costin had already designed bodies for Lotus and Vanwall. Costin designed a narrow, low-drag aluminum body for Lister.
For the 1959 season, the George Lister Engineering team in Cambridge assembled two works cars, nine of which were built in total. The two works cars were equipped with additional safety features such as a fireproof fuel tank. They were driven by Ivor Bueb, Peter Blond and sometimes also by Stirling Moss and Bruce Halford. Bueb took his first victory in a Costin that same year in Sussex. And the Costins were on the grid at both Sebring and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Today, Lister Costins are repeatedly successful in historic races. In 2016, a Lister Costin won its group at the Le Mans Classic and the Sussex Trophy at Goodwood.
The new continuation cars are again built in Cambridge by George Lister Engineering. The same methods as in the fifties are used in the construction, so that everything corresponds to the originals from the past. The 1959 Lister Costins had the straight-six engine from Jaguar, the Continuation Cars are powered by a period-correct straight-six from Crosthwaite and Gardiner. The same engine was already used for the Lister Knobbly Continuation Cars and the Stirling Moss Edition.
In just four seconds, the Lister Costin accelerates to 60 mph (96 kmh) and reaches a top speed of 180 mph (289 kmh). A Continuation Car with racing specifications and FIA HTP as well as the right to participate in the Stirling Moss Trophy costs £ 295,000 (€ 350,600, CHF 375,400) ex works. For an additional £12,500 (€14,900, CHF 15,900), the Lister Costin is also available with road approval.
You can find out more on the official Lister website.
