19 replies to this topic

[horizon]

Having read about the Lister Jags and Chevys, I'm interested to know more about the "Thom" bodied Lister-Bristols. I'm wondering what inspired the body styling for these Listers (& Lotuses?).

Pictures??

Thx
Horizon

[RobertE]

There were four built. 'Thom' is Thomas Lucas, who developed the bodywork design in the wind tunnel at Cambridge University. Brian Lister still has the scale model. The actual bodies were built by Wakefield's (now closed) in Byfleet. Unhappily, when I contacted them they had already disposed of the drawings they used to build them, as well as all the others they built for Lister.

All were slightly different; one or two were written off and the chassis numbers were recycled. The most famous of these was BHL3, registered VPP 9 which morphed into the Lister-Jaguar in which Archie Scott Brown crashed at Spa.

So it's all a bit confusing. All the Lucas cars were originally Lister-Bristols which used the three-port version of the BS4 six cylinder engine with top-end modifications by the late great Don Moore.

My scanner is buggered, but there are several pictures in 'Archie & the Listers' - I'm sure someone can post a few up...

[Tim Murray]

My scanner is buggered, but there are several pictures in 'Archie & the Listers' - I'm sure someone can post a few up...

If you're happy for me to do this, Robert:



Alan Moore, slightly out of line in Ormsby Issard-Davies's Lister-Bristol in 1955


Photos strictly copyright - posted with permission.

[Bauble]

[RobertE]

There you go; I cannot, for some reason, access Bauble's pictures. And, Tim, you are most welcome. They are pretty things...

I should add, for those who don't know, that 'Archie & the Listers' is a book wot I rote. The pictures were bought and paid for.

Edited by RobertE, 07 September 2011 - 12:45.

[Bauble]

There you go; I cannot, for some reason, access Bauble's pictures. And, Tim, you are most welcome. They are pretty things...

I should add, for those who don't know, that 'Archie & the Listers' is a book wot I rote. The pictures were bought and paid for.

Have you tried www.picasaweb.google.co.uk/rbmapics ? Revival Albums

Edited by Bauble, 07 September 2011 - 12:57.

[Tim Murray]

To give Robert a bit of guidance, Bauble's excellent photos show Barry Wood in Lister-Bristol 4CNO (BHL4?) at the Goodwood Revivals of (I think) 2008 and 2009.

Robert, just a thought, have you tried copy-and-pasting the individual photo URLs into your browser? This sometimes produces results.

I should add, for those who don't know, that 'Archie & the Listers' is a book wot I rote. The pictures were bought and paid for.

And a jolly fine book it is, too.

[RobertE]

Thank you, Tim. I fear that my pooter is in serious trouble. I've had the 'Blue Screen of Death' up a couple of times and perhaps it's that rather than my totally innocent Epson scanner.

By the way, 4 CNO is the car which probably made Jack Sears consider his career options. Bless him, he pressed on.

Thank you also for the kind comments, by the way...

[Barry Boor]

'Archie & The Lister's is one of 'my most favourite' books (to quote a well known street trader) and I have quite a few from which to choose.

[Bauble]

When Jack Sears vaulted over the 'safety bank' at Silverstone in 1954 (?) it was young Eric Dunsdon and myself who stared death in the face, as the Lister stopped a couple of feet short of where we stood. I reminded Jack of this incident and he apologised for scaring two lads in succh a fashion.

bauble.

PS; I did not have time to take a snap.

[RobertE]

When Jack Sears vaulted over the 'safety bank' at Silverstone in 1954 (?) it was young Eric Dunsdon and myself who stared death in the face, as the Lister stopped a couple of feet short of where we stood. I reminded Jack of this incident and he apologised for scaring two lads in succh a fashion.

bauble.

PS; I did not have time to take a snap.

Blimey; posts like this make me realise why it was so good and clever of me to join this forum...

[David Beard]

'Archie & The Lister's is one of 'my most favourite' books (to quote a well known street trader) and I have quite a few from which to choose.

Mine too. My copy is now a bit tatty. I have loaned it to umpteen friends with the instruction that it HAS to be read.

Edited by David Beard, 07 September 2011 - 20:23.

[RobertE]

Thank you for that, David & Barry. It will always be a story which will hold me in awe, and I'm chuffed that it was well received. It all kicked off when I was tiny and I had a chum who had been a victim of Thalidomide. It made me wonder...

Edited by RobertE, 07 September 2011 - 20:43.

[horizon]

Thank you to everyone who has offered there input and pictures of the Lister -Bristols. It would be great to see some more pictures of the Noel Cunningham-reid car.

[Doug Nye]

When Jack Sears vaulted over the 'safety bank' at Silverstone in 1954 (?) it was young Eric Dunsdon and myself who stared death in the face, as the Lister stopped a couple of feet short of where we stood. I reminded Jack of this incident and he apologised for scaring two lads in succh a fashion.

bauble.

PS; I did not have time to take a snap.

A drawing of Jack Sears rolling that Lister is the the first thing I ever had published, in 'Motor Racing' magazine, at the start of 1964.

DCN

Edited by Doug Nye, 11 September 2011 - 20:32.

[racingbrowser]

A drawing of Jack Sears rolling that Lister is the the first thing I ever had published, in 'Motor Racing' magazine, at the start of 1964.

DCN

Hello,I am looking for an image of 4CNO the Lister that Sears crashed at Silverstone, but after the car had been rebuilt. First proposed race back  was Crystal Palace 30-07-55 so any event after that date.Many thanks. Martin. 

[Bob Riebe]

Thank you to everyone who has offered there input and pictures of the Lister -Bristols. It would be great to see some more pictures of the Noel Cunningham-reid car.

 

 

 

Mk3 Competition Engine

Engine no. 145

• One of only 60-70 BS1 Mk3 engines made
• Originally installed in a Kieft
• Rare competition type magnesium oil sump
• Incredibly rare 'test report' 1953 on file
• Requires overhauling prior to use

The 1,971cc six-cylinder engine of the BMW 328 featured an ingenious new cylinder head, designed by Rudolf Schleicher, incorporating hemispherical combustion chambers and inclined valves without recourse to overhead, or twin camshafts. Externally, Bristol's Type 85A clone of the BMW motor differed little from the German original, the most obvious difference being the adoption of SU, rather than Solex, carburettors part way through production. The most significant changes made by the Bristol designers were metallurgical, their utilisation of the highest quality materials contributing to increased engine life. A maximum output of 80bhp at 4,200rpm was claimed.

Manufactured in period and intended for competition use, the Bristol BS1 Mk3 engine was the most powerful version available at the time of its introduction, producing circa 140bhp (see list of variants on file). BS1 Mk3 engines were produced in limited quantities; indeed, it is believed that only 60 to 70 were ever made. This particular type of engine was intended for installation in competition cars such as the Frazier Nash, Cooper Bristol, Lister Bristol and Kieft Bristol. Records indicate that this particular engine (number '145') was installed in a Kieft. The BS1 Mk3 was based on the Cooper-specific BS1 but with a Girling viscous crankshaft damper, streamlined carburettor butterflies, redesigned small-nose crankshaft, twin rocker box breather pipes, no oil filter, and a sports type magnesium oil sump.

The cylinder block and head have the correct casting number, and the engine still retains all of its original and extremely rare period-correct components that are specific to Mk3 engines:

2" racing crankshaft
Sports type magnesium oil sump
Correct 3-into-1 cast exhaust manifold
Matched set of carburettors

IN Racing, recognised specialists, confirm the engine is complete including the matching set of original carburettors, but would need to be overhauled before use. It comes with its original test report dated 8th July 1953, which is an extremely rare document to have.

 

 

 

Lister Bristol Flat Iron (1955)

 

 

 

Edited by Bob Riebe, 06 March 2025 - 00:51.

[cooper997]

Hello,I am looking for an image of 4CNO the Lister that Sears crashed at Silverstone, but after the car had been rebuilt. First proposed race back  was Crystal Palace 30-07-55 so any event after that date.Many thanks. Martin. 

Martin, this is from my 30/7/55 CP programme

 

 

 

Stephen

[racingbrowser]

Stephen,many thanks for image.I do know the races Sears entered with 4CNO after his Silverstone crash but I am trying to find an image of the body style immediately used after the crash.Originally Thom Lucas body before crash but when is the actual period that 4CNO was then running without winged Thom Lucas style rear. I had always thought that body style changed because of damage inflicted by Sears. I have discovered an anomaly in the Lister history which I want to solve. I have tried mailing Nye,Edwards and Skilleter  but none responded to mail.

[racingbrowser]

Stephen, My response just sent seems to have disappeared. So to clarify, I am looking for an image of 4CNO when raced after Sears accident.The car wasn't actually raced on 30-07-55 because of broken timing chain whilst practising. Further events on 13-08-55 Snetterton, 04-09-55 Brands, 11-09-55 Eastern Counties Speed Trial, 17-09-55 Silverstone, 25-09-55 Snetterton, 01-10-55 Castle Combe, 09-10-55 Brands.