THE LISTER MOTOR COMPANY LAUNCHES KNOBBLY CONTINUATION FILM, FEATURING A VERY SPECIAL CAR

THE LISTER MOTOR COMPANY LAUNCHES KNOBBLY CONTINUATION FILM, FEATURING A VERY SPECIAL CAR

The Lister Motor Company, manufacturers of the LFT-666, LFP, LFT-C and a range of continuation models, has produced a film showing the road-legal Lister Knobbly continuation being constructed, and driven, at the Lister factory in Cambridgeshire.

All Knobbly continuation models are built to the very same specification as the original 1958 Knobbly racers, using the late Brian Lister’s original drawings and manufacturing jigs, but the car featured in this film has a very interesting story behind it.

The Lister Motor Company was acquired by the Whittaker family in 2013, a purchase that came about thanks to Andrew Whittaker buying the Lister Knobbly you see in the film, registration number 324 JTD.

The Whittaker family has a passion for cars, and it was long an ambition of Andrew to own an original Lister Knobbly. When a suitable car was offered for sale in 2011 a deal was struck, but the Knobbly he purchased was far from complete, in fact what Whittaker now owned was barely more than a Knobbly body and a few boxes of parts.

On the hunt for the items needed to complete the car, a call was made to Brian Lister Engineering in Cambridgeshire to enquire if they could assist with some hard to find Knobbly mechanicals.

As result of that call, Andrew and Lawrence Whittaker received an invite to visit the factory to view a number of spare parts which resided in an old wooden container, untouched since Lister cars stopped being manufactured in Cambridge many years previously.

Not only did that container yield some much-needed parts, it also contained some incredible Lister history, including technical drawings, blueprints, photos and styling bucks…in fact, all that was needed to create Lister Knobbly and Costin models. It was then that the Whittaker’s realised that Lister could be reborn.

Following that chance visit to Cambridge, and the arduous collection of meetings, exploration due diligence and negotiations that followed, in 2013 the Whittaker family finally became owners of five limited companies that now sit correctly under the group company, The Lister Motor Company Limited.

Long before the LFT-666 supercar was launched, the first Whittaker Lister was the Knobbly Continuation, built at the Cambridge factory by the same team who had built the Knobbly under Brian Lister, coaxed out of retirement by Andrew & Lawrence Whittaker, who helped a new, younger Lister team.

It was 324 JTD that was used to develop the continuation cars, providing a rolling chassis to ensure the drawings and blueprints were accurate and as a prototype to evaluate on the road. That car has long since been completed, and features in the film launched today.

All Lister Knobbly Continuation cars can be built to FIA specification and still be road legal, making them one of a small number of new cars you can drive to the circuit, race and drive home again. Despite following an original design laid out more than 60 years ago, the reborn Knobbly can accelerate from 0-60mph in 4.3 seconds and hit a top speed of 181mph.

A new Lister Knobbly Continuation can still be purchased today, priced at £315,000.

Lister Motor Company owner Lawrence Whittaker said: “Every Lister Knobbly is special, be it an original or a factory approved continuation, but 324 JTD will always be regarded as the car that reignited Lister. This car and the subsequent search for parts led to car building restarting in Cambridge, the launch of the LFT-666, LFP and LFT-C and the opening of a new £5m Lister Headquarters in Blackburn.”

“This film captures the evocative nature of the Knobbly and showcases the Cambridgeshire factory and the glorious surroundings in which it is based. It’s a special film, featuring a special car, and we hope you enjoy watching it.”

The film can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hefaivuvUAE&feature=youtu.be

Photo Credit: Robert Cooper

THORNLEY KELHAM RESTORES THREE ULTRA-RARE LANCIA FLAMINIA ZAGATOS

THORNLEY KELHAM RESTORES THREE ULTRA-RARE LANCIA FLAMINIA ZAGATOS

Cotswolds-based classic car restoration specialist, Thornley Kelham, have completed extensive nut-and-bolt restoration work on three ultra-rare Lancia Flaminia Zagatos. Only 526 Flaminia Zagatos were built between 1959 and 1967, and not only has Thornley Kelham restored these three, but it also has a further two currently being completed in its state-of-the-art workshops, and another for sale.

With in-house bodywork, paint, engine and fabrication shops, Thornley Kelham is widely regarded for the quality of its restorations of historically significant, often unique vehicles. Having restored a number of rare Lancia models in the past, including perhaps the most famous Lancia in the world, the ex-Bracco Aurelia B20GT, Thornley Kelham has over 10 years of top-end restoration expertise.

Lancia Flaminia Zagato production spanned eight years and four evolutions and – in Zagato’s Centenary Year – is still widely regarded as one of the carrozzeria’s most beautiful designs, featuring classic sporting lines and the iconic double-bubble roof. With disc brakes all-round on later models, and fully independent front suspension it was renowned for its excellent balance and superb on-road manners.

Prior to the restoration work of the three Flaminia Sport Zagatos, Thornley Kelham commissioned 3D Engineers to scan a Zagato, from which a buck was produced. This enabled the team to make new or repair existing skins for all future Flaminia Zagatos that may arrive. The svelte aluminium body panels are enormously delicate and intricately shaped, making the creation of new panels challenging work.

There were three generations of Zagato-bodied Flaminias. The earliest cars, numbering 199, were single carburettor models, the first 99 of which had cowled headlamps. This design changed to open headlamps in 1960 due to revised Italian traffic regulations. This lead to:

The second evolution of the Flaminia, the Sport 3C, which is virtually identical to its predecessor but with three carburettors (3C) fitted to its 2.5-litre V6 engine. Power surged from 119bhp to 140bhp thanks to this change and a total of 152 models were produced. Two of the cars restored were from this period.

The final, and latest, example of the triumvirate is a one-of-33 Flaminia Sport 3C 2.8 model, produced in 1963. These latter cars were fitted with a bored-out version of the 2.5-litre engine, taking total displacement to 2.8 litres, boosting power to 150bhp. This particular car is arguably unique, being fitted with the covered headlights of the early  Series I Flaminias.

But Flaminia Zagato development didn’t stop with the 3C 2.8. In 1964, Lancia released the Super Sport variant, radically updated, featuring a new Kamm Tail design and a strengthened version of the 2.8-litre engine, complete with bigger carburettors. Only 150 examples were produced, and Thornley Kelham is currently carrying out extensive restoration work on two of them. 

A further Flaminia Super Sport Zagato is currently being offered for sale by Thornley Kelham, complete with its original 2.8-litre engine and upgrades including adjustable Zagato-style seats with lumbar support, custom stainless-steel exhaust system with stainless-steel headers, Amadori-style 15” magnesium alloy wheels, auxiliary electric fan, and a dynator. The braking system has been largely rebuilt with upgraded front calipers. For more information see the website: www.thornleykelham.com

PENDINE OFFERS ULTRA-RARE ASTON MARTIN V8 ZAGATO PROTOTYPE IN ZAGATO CENTENARY YEAR

PENDINE OFFERS ULTRA-RARE ASTON MARTIN V8 ZAGATO PROTOTYPE IN ZAGATO CENTENARY YEAR

An extremely rare 1986 Aston Martin V8 Zagato prototype worthy of the world’s finest car collections is for sale with Bicester Heritage based, specialist dealer, Pendine Historic Cars.

Chassis 20011 is one of just three prototypes, and one of two configured in right-hand drive built ahead of the original limited production run of around 50 Aston Martin V8 Zagato coupés, all of which were pre-sold before production had even started.

Finished in Gladiator Red and presented in beautiful, restored condition, this particular prototype was commissioned with a unique specification by Aston Martin enthusiast Wensley Hayden-Baillie, a close friend of former Aston Martin Lagonda chairman, Victor Gauntlett.

It comes to market from a private collection for the first time in 20 years in an unmissable opportunity for Aston Martin collectors and those looking to mark the 100thyear of the Zagato brand.

“Chassis 20011 is a well-known Aston Martin and is surely one of the finest examples of all of the V8 Zagatos built,” comments James Mitchell, founder, Pendine Historic Cars.

“According to the current owner, who has raced and driven more V8 Zagatos than most, it drives unlike the other cars and is visceral by comparison. This is a special car which seriously deserves recognition for its place in the marque’s genesis.”

Based on the Aston Martin V8 but with a Zagato coach built body, the car’s angular appearance and squared-off grille are paired with a lighter weight and shorter wheelbase than the ‘standard’ Vantage, with deleted rear seats.

The factory quoted 0-60 time of under five seconds with a top speed of around 190mph, making it Aston Martin’s fastest ever car at the time.

As with all cars commissioned by Wensley Hayden-Baillie, chassis 20011 has an exceptionally high specification and consequently is one of only four known to have been built with the 432bhp motor, and one of just two with an integral roll bar. Other features include black leather seats, leather-covered steering wheel and dashboard, walnut centre console and authenticity plaques.

Between 2009 and 2013 the car was subjected to a breath-taking restoration by Pebble Beach winning specialist, Auto Restorations, which took place in New Zealand and was overseen by the current, third custodian.

Today the car is listed by Aston Martin Heritage Trust as a significant car and in recognition of its status was invited to the highly prestigious Concorso Eleganza Villa d’Este at Lake Como in 2016, one of only 52 cars annually, worldwide, to receive such an invitation. This was followed by an invitation to the inaugural City of London Concours in 2017.

The V8 Zagato prototype is for sale with an asking price of £530,000 and is accompanied by all of its original manuals, delivery and warranty documents as well as copies of the fascinating factory memos about this special build. There is an unbroken, complete and extensive history file along with the original service vouchers book and handbook.

Interested parties should contact James Mitchell at Pendine Historic Cars directly by emailing james@pendine.com or on +44 1869 357126.

For further details on the 1986 Aston Martin V8 Zagato prototype for sale with Pendine Historic Cars, visit https://pendine.com/portfolio/1986-aston-martin-v8-zagato/.

All images copyright “Pendine Historic Cars”

ENTRIES OPEN FOR THE ROYAL AUTOMOBILE CLUB MOTORING BOOK OF THE YEAR 2019

ENTRIES OPEN FOR THE ROYAL AUTOMOBILE CLUB MOTORING BOOK

OF THE YEAR 2019

With less than six weeks to go before the cut-off date for entries, the 2019 Royal Automobile Club Motoring Book of The Year judging process will soon be underway.

Now in its sixth consecutive year, entrants can choose between two categories: the Motoring Book of the Year or the Specialist Book of the Year award.

The two accolades are open for books issued between July 2018 and June 2019 (12 months), with the Motoring Book of the Year title being awarded to ‘an exceptional book with wide appeal’ and costing no more than £75. The Specialist Book of the Year award is given for a book demonstrating ‘impeccable research with flawless writing’.

The Royal Automobile Club awards celebrate the many automotive great books, authors and publishers, and their importance in both exploring and documenting the many key events, vehicles and individuals who have helped shape the history of motoring.

Jeremy Vaughan, Head of Motoring at the Royal Automobile Club, said “It’s been wonderful to see so many new launches over the past year and we want to encourage as many authors and publishers to submit their new titles for our awards. This sector of the industry is in good shape with many publishers having a healthy a pipeline of launches up their sleeve, which is very encouraging”.

Every year, the Club’s judges are given the challenging task of singling out one of a dozen titles to be crowned the Motoring Book of the Year, while also deciding which author will receive the Specialist Book of the Year award, designed to recognise the talent of combining impeccable research with flawless writing.

New for 2019 – The Royal Automobile will also award a Lifetime Achievement award to honour an individual or business who has made a major contribution to the automotive publishing industry.

The judging panel includes some of Britain’s most experienced car book reviewers: Gordon Cruickshank of Motor Sport, Mark Dixon of Octane, Mick Walsh of Classic & Sports Car, avid book collector and editor of the BRDC Bulletin Ian Titchmarsh. Representing the book retail sector are Ben Horton of specialist bookseller, Horton’s Books, and Christian Whitehead of the London bookstore, Foyles.

With a rich pedigree in celebrating motoring accomplishments and a heritage bound to the history of the motor car, the Club is well suited to recognising excellence in motoring literature.

The Royal Automobile Motoring Book of The Year takes place at the Pall Mall clubhouse during the Club’s London Motor Week in October 2019. It is the crowning moment of an evening which includes an entertaining interview with a ‘motoring book legend’.

The event forms part of the Club’s London Motor Week, which culminates in the world famous Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run supported on Sunday 3 November 2019.

The Club urges all automotive authors and publishers to make the judges aware of eligible titles. The closing date for submissions is Monday 1 July. For further submission details please contact: rebecca@eventspr.co.uk or visit www.royalautomobileclub.co.uk

JAGUAR CLASSIC CREATES TAILOR-MADE XK120 FOR MALE MODEL DAVID GANDY

JAGUAR CLASSIC CREATES TAILOR-MADE XK120 FOR MALE MODEL DAVID GANDY

Jaguar Classic has completed a bespoke XK120 sports car restoration commissioned by renowned British male model and life-long Jaguar enthusiast David Gandy.

The 11-month project, which was a close collaboration between David Gandy and Jaguar Classic’s experts at its Classic Works facility in Warwickshire, took 2,700 hours to complete.

Following a brief to make it race-ready for classic motorsport events such as the Jaguar Classic Challenge, the car’s specification is inspired by the original XK120 Lightweight.

David Gandy said: “Having driven a Jaguar XK120 at the Mille Miglia in 2013 and 2014, I knew that I wanted to own one of these incredibly special cars. The team at Jaguar Classic have done such a remarkable job engineering this car and executing everything that I asked for and it was amazing to have such an in-depth involvement in its creation.”

Jaguar Classic’s dedicated sourcing team tracked-down a suitable 1954 base car in California, US, and has retained as much of the original car as possible.

The in-line six-cylinder unit was meticulously rebuilt over five and a half months, with the final objective to use the car for racing. The result is a performance upgrade from the original 180bhp output to 225bhp and enhanced durability for higher speeds, with items like the core plugs featuring steel bracing so they don’t dislodge during high-performance driving. An all-new, upgraded exhaust system features dual pipes instead of the usual single pipe.

Further improvements include the use of a faster-shifting racing-style gearbox which is more durable under high stresses and uprated brakes, with the front set-up now featuring disc brakes with four-pot callipers while the rear retains the original refurbished drum brakes. The suspension features fully adjustable dampers, allowing the Classic team to fine-tune the handling for specific events.

Calum McKechnie, Head of Jaguar Classic, said: “This unique XK120 showcases the expertise, skill and craftsmanship that Jaguar Classic makes available for all of its customers. Not only were we able to bring this iconic sports car back to life mechanically, but the attention to detail and the bespoke design of the interior sets David’s car apart.”

The design and finishing touches were created in collaboration with David, who chose the colour and materials at every step of the renovation. The exterior is finished in solid black, made up of 13 litres and four coats of paint, while additional exterior features include a racing-inspired flip-top fuel cap. The original split-screen windscreen has been replaced by twin aero screens, another feature synonymous with the XK120 Lightweight.

Inside, the car is just as unique. Finished in an Aged Saddle tan leather, the seats feature a bespoke lattice design with the seatbacks finished in aluminium rather than the usual fabric material. While two batteries would usually sit behind the driver’s seat, for this car the Classic team put a single battery behind the passenger seat to free up space behind the driver, to enhance comfort for 6ft 2inch tall David. This was also a consideration for the choice of steering wheel, which is smaller than normal to provide more legroom.

The finished car was handed over to its delighted owner, who intends to use it on road and in competition, ahead of last weekend’s Monaco E-Prix race.

For more details about Jaguar Classic go to www.jaguar.com/classic

THE CONTROVERSIAL FERRARI THAT DEFIED EXPECTATIONS BY DOMINATING LE MANS

THE CONTROVERSIAL FERRARI THAT DEFIED EXPECTATIONS BY DOMINATING LE MANS

Exceptional Cars Series No. 7

Ferrari 250 LM  

The remarkable history of 6313    

By James Page   

Published by Porter Press International

Publication date: May 2019

Jacketed Hardback ● RRP: £30.00 ● ISBN: 978-1-907085-73-4

128 pages ● Format 240 mm x 280 mm ● 120+ images inc. colour

Born of controversy, the compact Ferrari 250 LM mid-engined coupe was intended to qualify as a GT car for world championship racing but was decreed by the sport’s rule-makers as ineligible. Instead, the new model was obliged to race through 1964 and 1965 as a sports-prototype against faster, purpose-built machinery. And yet, despite this apparent disadvantage, two 250 LMs dominated the Le Mans 24 Hour race in 1965. One of those cars, chassis number 6313, is the subject of the seventh title in Porter Press’ Exceptional Cars series.

6313 was the third 250 LM acquired by Jacques Swaters’ Ecurie Francorchamps team and one of the last of the 32 built. Painted in the bright yellow racing colours of Belgium and driven at Le Mans in ’65 by Pierre Dumay and Gustave Gosselin, this car led from the 11th to the 20th hours before having to pit with bodywork damaged by a rear tyre failure. Racing back into action after hasty repairs, 6313 finished second to the NART 250 LM of Jochen Rindt and Masten Gregory.

Story highlights

• How the 250 LM was intended to be the ultimate variation of Ferrari’s fabled 250 GT theme, a development of the SWB and GTO, but the rule-makers saw it differently.
• The genesis of the 250 LM, its development, technical details, and specification. Here are all the elements upon which Ferrari’s legend has been built: beautiful Pininfarina bodywork, a sonorous Colombo V12 engine, and motor sport success.
• The race that made 6313 famous, the 1965 Le Mans 24 Hours, and how the car finished second despite a setback.
• How 6313’s identity was confused for many years with that of its team-mate, 6023, until detective work by Ferrari specialist Keith Bluemel revealed the truth.
• 6313’s other major European long-distance races in 1965 at Monza, Spa-Francorchamps, the Nürburgring, and Reims, as well as participation in the Grande Premio de Angola.
• Driver profiles, period documents and photographs, and studio photos of the car today.

The author

James Page is a former editor of Classic & Sports Car magazine and now a freelance motoring writer and author. He still contributes to Classic & Sports Car, as well as other titles including Autosport and Octane. James has written several books for Porter Press including Jaguar Lightweight E-type – The Autobiography of 49 FXN, published in the acclaimed Great Cars series, and the Aston Martin title DB4 G.T. Continuation: History in the making.

INTRODUCING RETRO CARS - A NEW TYPE OF CAR MAGAZINE FOR YOUNGER, AFFORDABLE CLASSIC CARS

INTRODUCING RETRO CARS - A NEW TYPE OF CAR MAGAZINE FOR YOUNGER, AFFORDABLE CLASSIC CARS

A brand new type of classic car magazine is set to hit the shelves, concentrating on a rapidly growing but under-represented area of the scene often frequented by younger enthusiasts.

Retro Cars is a reinvention of one of Kelsey Media’s established titles, but rather than focusing on modified cars the title is going back to its roots, with modern classic cars from the 1980s through to the mid-2000s being the heart of its content.

In the first issue, the Retro Cars team take an in-depth look at the Ford Focus to determine if it truly was the best car of the 1990s, pit the Mk 2 Mazda MX-5 against the Mk 3 Toyota MR2, look at cheaper alternatives to modern classic icons, compare VW Golf Marks 1 to 4 and even take a Mazda Demio out to compete in the Sunday Cup - something that the PlayStation Generation will instantly relate to.

Retro Cars will be published every eight weeks and will be edited by established motoring writer Craig Cheetham, who was Deputy Motoring Editor for Auto Express back when most of the cars that star in the mag were brand new.

He said: “There are so many groups on social media platforms these days that concentrate on affordable cars from the 80s, 90s and 2000s and this tells us that there’s an appetite there for preserving these vehicles as future classics. These are probably the last generation of cars that are within the scope of straightforward home maintenance, while still being rewarding to own and drive.

“The 1990s, in particular, were a golden era for the car industry, with the pace of development and quality of car dynamics evolving rapidly. As nostalgia evolves at the same time, we’re seeing the best examples of these cars being increasingly more cherished by car enthusiasts, who see them as an inexpensive way of having an unusual and enjoyable car that’s perfectly suitable for everyday use. These enthusiasts are the core of the market we’re aiming for.”

The magazine will be published by Kelsey Media, which is a well-known brand within the enthusiast automotive sector of the magazine market - one of the few areas of the print publishing industry that remains strong in an increasingly digital era.

Kelsey Media Managing Director Phil Weeden said: “There are other titles out there that serve enthusiasts of the more modern generation of classic cars, but they tend to focus on high-end, thoroughbred models. Retro Cars is very different. These are the cars that we grew up with, that our readers will remember owning and driving, or being driven to school in, or craving for during their teenage years. There’s a big gap in the magazine market for the increasingly popular enthusiasm for these new-age future classics and I’m hugely excited by the potential that Retro Cars has to grow and serve this market.”

Among the editorial team on the new magazine will be Tom Barnard, formerly Auto Express Motoring Editor, Ian Seabrook, a YouTube sensation with his Hubnut videos, Sam Skelton, a highly regarded enthusiast of modern classic and executive cars and Paul Walton, a former Top Gear journalist and editor of Retro’s sister title, Jaguar World.

The first issue of the new magazine appears on newsstands on May 17th, but those who want to sign up early can take advantage of an amazing launch subscription offer, which includes a fabulous 40-piece BlueSpot socket set and six issues of Retro Cars for just £21.99. You can view the subscription offer here shop.kelsey.co.uk/rca175

BEAULIEU IS THE HOME OF MOTORING FOR NEW CAR SERIES FILMING

BEAULIEU IS THE HOME OF MOTORING FOR NEW CAR SERIES FILMING

The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu is the perfect backdrop for new prime-time car show The Car Years which begins broadcasting its first series on Tuesdays from May 7th.

The museum – with its world-famous collection of more than 250 vehicles telling the story of motoring history – was the natural choice for presenters Vicki Butler-Henderson and Alex Riley to go head-to-head with their favourite cars from chosen years. The Montagu ancestral home of Palace House and its stunning grounds and gardens are also featured during the six-episode series.

Starting with an ITV4 double-bill from 8pm, Vicki will pitch the iconic Porsche 911 sports car against Alex with his Ford Mustang original muscle car from 1964. Then for 1984, Vicky chooses the turbo powered Ford RS200 while Alex picks Miami Vice favourite, the Ferrari Testarossa.

Winners of the car battles are picked by judges including former F1 drivers and broadcasters Tiff Needell and Karun Chandhok, motoring writers and presenters Erin Baker and Quentin Willson, former Top Gear Stig and stunt driver Ben Collins, motoring author and vlogger Richard Porter and world-renowned motoring auctioneer Chris Routledge.

Later in the series, the British MGA sports car driven by the likes of Elvis Presley is pitted against the Hollywood favourite Mercedes 190SL from 1955, while the world-beating Audi Quattro is set against Alex’s childhood hero the Renault 5 Turbo from 1980, the Porsche Boxster competes against its sports car rival the Lotus Elise from 1996 and four-seater performance cars the Golf GTi hot hatch and Saab 99 Turbo go head-to-head for 1976.

Beaulieu’s Commercial Director Steve Munn said: “We have been pleased to host The Car Years filming and look forward to working with the production team on future series. As the home of British motoring, Beaulieu is the perfect setting for the new show which celebrates some of the most popular cars in automotive history.”

The Car Years is also a perfect fit for its sponsors, Beaulieu’s partners and classic vehicle insurance specialists Footman James. The show’s celebrities recently appeared at Beaulieu’s media partners’ Practical Classic’s Classic Car & Restoration Show at the NEC.

To see the backdrops used in filming, a ticket to Beaulieu includes entry to the National Motor Museum with its Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 50 years exhibition, World of Top Gear, On Screen Cars, Palace House, 13th century Beaulieu Abbey and the grounds and gardens. Tickets can be bought in advance online. For tickets and details see www.beaulieu.co.uk or call 01590 612345.