The Lister Knobbly is a lightweight sports racing car designed, developed and built by the British manufacturer Lister between 1957 and 1959. Its nickname came from the distinctive, slightly odd curves of its bodywork, and it could be ordered with a Jaguar straight-six or a larger Chevrolet small-block engine.
Lister Knobbly at a glance
| Maker | Lister, United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Production | 1957–1959 |
| Type | lightweight sports racing car |
| Nickname | Knobbly, after the shape of the bodywork |
| Engines | Jaguar straight-six or Chevrolet small-block V8 |
| Body | curved, lightly built bodywork |
Only the short English Wikipedia entry on the Knobbly was available, so this article is based on that single source and is deliberately brief.
History of the Lister Knobbly
A car shaped by its curves
The Knobbly was designed, developed and built by Lister, a British manufacturer of low-volume racing cars, and was produced from 1957 to 1959. Its shape was unlike that of its rivals: the bodywork curved in a way that many found odd, and the nickname “Knobbly” stuck to the car because of it.
Two engines
Buyers could choose between a Jaguar straight-six and a larger Chevrolet small-block V8. The American V8 gave the little Lister considerably more capacity than the British six, and both versions were campaigned in sports car racing of the period.
Design and features
- Lightweight construction: the Knobbly was built as a lightweight sports racing car rather than a road model.
- Distinctive bodywork: the curved shape gave the car its nickname and makes it easy to recognise today.
- Two engine choices: a Jaguar straight-six or a larger Chevrolet small-block V8.
- British low-volume build: designed, developed and built in house by Lister.
Lister Knobbly versions
- Jaguar-engined Knobbly: the version with the Jaguar straight-six.
- Chevrolet-engined Knobbly: the version with the larger Chevrolet small-block V8.
The Knobbly was Lister’s sports racer of the late 1950s; the marque returned to racing with the Lister Storm in the 1990s. More cars are in the Lister collection.
Sources
- Lister Knobbly, English Wikipedia: production years, bodywork, engines
