GTP Cool Wall: 2015 Lister Knobbly

[synchromesh]

The problem with the new cars is that they'll never have the history like the ones from the 50s. One of these will never take part in Le Mans 24H or some other prestigious classic motorsport event and/or be driven by some now deceased racing driver you've read of from a magazine as a 10 year old. Not that it's a bad thing when driving it, but it would still bother the super rich car collector deep inside me.

I know exactly how you feel. They are indeed qualified for FiA Appendix K regulations and classic motorsport racing, but owners will likely drive them (as Lister can make them road legal) down their road and back on Sundays. And while yes it isn't an original 50's Lister, it's less expensive and more reliable than buying a classic one. What you can do with this is pretty much the same you can do with an original.

 

[TheCracker]

But they probably won't get driven on the road. The market for what is pretty much an obscure and largely unknown 50's sportscar is minuscule and likely to be limited to people who want access to some prestigious historic Motorsport events. They won't exist in people's garags, tempting them to have a quick Sunday afternoon spin (they'd be pretty terrible on the road if built to competitive App-K spec anyway) they'll sit in some race-prep'ers facility and get transported to and from events in an enclosed trailer/transporter, just like the genuine ones do.

There's no reason why they'd be anymore reliable than one of the original ones either. They'll just use brand new original parts (they'd have to to get their App-K papers) The original ones that compete today will have been rebuilt using the same new/original parts too. Genuine cars are valuable enough to only be owned by owners with deep pockets who'll pay what it takes to make their car competitive, yet they're not so ridiculously valuable so as to keeping all the period-made parts being essential.

 

[Imari]

Not much difference in concept to a Singer or an Eagle E-Type.

The difference is that a real E-Type is staggeringly cool, so even though an E-Type knockoff is a step down it's still high enough up to be pretty cool.

On the other hand, it's hard to argue that a classic Knobbler is really that cool in the first place. A bit, sure, with the whole 50's racecar charm. But then you take a couple of steps down from that for being a knockoff and suddenly it's not looking so flash.

Kitcars/replicas are only as cool as the design itself, they don't get the benefit of the years of heritage and nostalgia that would be behind a real car.

 

[Lizard]

Knobbly? What a British name. SZ just for that.

 

[Adamgp]

Ok looks, funny name and a 283 Chevy.

Low cool.

 

[synchromesh]

But then you take a couple of steps down from that for being a knockoff and suddenly it's not looking so flash.

Saying it's a kit car is wrong, as by definition a kit car is parts of a car, sometimes things like the engine and tranny are shared with amother car, and you assemble it yourself. It's also not a knockoff, as the same company and same people built it. Lister simply resumed production after 50 or so years.

 

[XS]

An admirable go at a unique car again. Not sure why all the hate. It's a small production niche car, and if it's as nice looking in real life as in the pictures then it's a looker too. There are things against it too, like being a drop in a sea of small production competitors, and having a goofy name from a manufacturer that doesn't have the greatest of history. But at one time Aston Martin was making unreliable, out dated cars on the last breath of a stale dynasty and look at them now.

 

[Imari]

Saying it's a kit car is wrong, as by definition a kit car is parts of a car, sometimes things like the engine and tranny are shared with amother car, and you assemble it yourself. It's also not a knockoff, as the same company and same people built it. Lister simply resumed production after 50 or so years.

I know it's not a kit car, and I didn't say that it was. But it is a knockoff of an old design. They haven't simply resumed production, because it wouldn't be legal under current racing regulations. It's an old design that's been updated to 2015 regs.

Cars from the '50s are cool in part because they're from the '50s. The moment you start modifying the design for modern times, it loses that, not to mention that it doesn't have the history any more. Hugh Hefner is so much cooler as an 88 year old with all his "experience" than a hypothetical 18 year old clone Hef would be.

It's a fine car, but it's a less cool version of a car that isn't staggeringly cool to start with. Obviously you'll disagree because your username is Lister_Storm, but at least you can recognise that the old Knobbly isn't one of the great classic cars of the era. It's random '50s racecar with some quite interesting lines.

 

[Fat Tyre]

It is a beauty, couldn't care less it is new. Sub zero.

 

[yabiggoose]

"I drive a knob(bly)."

Seriously uncool.

 

[Imari]

"I drive a knob(bly)."

Seriously uncool.

What if you said "Hey baby, wanna ride on my Knobbly?"

 

[Legro]

What if you said "Hey baby, wanna ride on my Knobbly?"

That depends on the answer.

 

[Roger the Horse]

If one were to say that, one would hope one would wind up spending the rest of the night in a cell.

 

[yabiggoose]

"I'm gonna take my kids out on my knobbly"

"Would your son like to ride my
Knobbly?"

...

lol

 

[chzsln485]

Not much difference in concept to a Singer or an Eagle E-Type.

Utterly stunning, and the I6 with modern day tuning is an incredibly good engine.

Cool.


This struggles to get an average 'cool' rating and a 4 door Honda saloon with a 4 pot and a silly rear wing gets an easy cool

*insert stereotypical old man ranting about kids today and not knowing what a good car is, back in my day we had to actually drive cars, etc.*

Seriously, it is a bit of shame that this is the case. This car is staggeringly beautiful. However, it is called the Knobbly. This is one step away from calling it the Lumpy. You know something else that's lumpy? Improperly mixed Yorkshire Pudding mix. That's not cool. However, it's beautiful enough to earn SZ.

 

[TheCracker]

The 50's version was never actually called a Lister 'Knobbly' - that was only ever a nickname. It was only ever a Lister-Jaguar or Lister-Chevrolet.

 

[Scaff]

I know it's not a kit car, and I didn't say that it was. But it is a knockoff of an old design. They haven't simply resumed production, because it wouldn't be legal under current racing regulations. It's an old design that's been updated to 2015 regs.

As has already been explained (by someone who races Historic cars) that is not true at all......

But they probably won't get driven on the road. The market for what is pretty much an obscure and largely unknown 50's sportscar is minuscule and likely to be limited to people who want access to some prestigious historic Motorsport events. They won't exist in people's garags, tempting them to have a quick Sunday afternoon spin (they'd be pretty terrible on the road if built to competitive App-K spec anyway) they'll sit in some race-prep'ers facility and get transported to and from events in an enclosed trailer/transporter, just like the genuine ones do.

There's no reason why they'd be anymore reliable than one of the original ones either. They'll just use brand new original parts (they'd have to to get their App-K papers) The original ones that compete today will have been rebuilt using the same new/original parts too. Genuine cars are valuable enough to only be owned by owners with deep pockets who'll pay what it takes to make their car competitive, yet they're not so ridiculously valuable so as to keeping all the period-made parts being essential.

.....its not a knock-off, its a continuation and has to use the same parts as the original would have had fitted to it. In terms of whats required to make it legal for competition, that would be exactly the same as would be required for an original car.

 

[squadops]

How does the street-legal version fit into all of that?

 

[TheCracker]

How does the street-legal version fit into all of that?

It's probably almost exactly the same. Fully trimmed cabin, the necessary lights and mirrors that might be required. Perhaps a softer tune of engine and suspension. In the 50's, the difference between a competition sports car and it's road-going equivalent would have been negligible.

Two obviously road-registered Lister-Jaguars at Le Mans in period:

 

[synchromesh]

To be fair, the name may be controversial, but the original car was never named that. It was simply Lister-Jaguar or Lister-Chevrolet. However, in the fifties "Knobbly" was given to it as a nickname and it stuck.

The 50's version was never actually called a Lister 'Knobbly' - that was only ever a nickname. It was only ever a Lister-Jaguar or Lister-Chevrolet.

It may have also been referred to by it's chassis, example: "BHL EE 101"

 

[squadops]

It's probably almost exactly the same. Fully trimmed cabin, the necessary lights and mirrors that might be required. Perhaps a softer tune of engine and suspension. In the 50's, the difference between a competition sports car and it's road-going equivalent would have been negligible.

Makes sense 👍

Makes me think about safety and emissions now(which was not why I was asking), here as the laws change you are given leniency based on the year of car but this one is a bit different as it's 65 years old and also 1 year old lol. With only a handful on the market I guess it doesn't mater all that much.

 

[C-ZETA]

I dislike judging cars by name but Knobbly isn't exactly the most threatening sounding name...

 

[Tyger]

Bit of an odd one this. I like the original cars a lot but find these bolt-by-bolt recreations a little strange. Looking forward to the new car Lister are apparently working on though Cool for this one.

 

[BloodyThunderX]

Gorgeous car, regardless if it's not an original.

...And if it has a silly name for that matter to.

Cool.