1956 Lister Maserati 2.0-Litre Sports-Racing Two-Seater
- Engine
- 2.0L twin-cam inline-six Maserati A6GCS unit, rebuilt by Crosthwaite & Gardiner
Chassis BHL 1, registered MER 303, is the sole surviving Lister-Maserati works car, built by Brian Lister for the 1956 season and driven by the celebrated Archie Scott Brown. Combining a Maserati twin-cam six-cylinder engine with a lightweight tubular chassis and a low-drag body inspired by the MG EX179 record car, the car achieved three outright victories in period. It subsequently passed through several notable owners and in recent years has been campaigned in historic motorsport, its Maserati engine having been rebuilt by specialists Crosthwaite & Gardiner. It is offered with its original engine and an MSA HTP valid to 2027.
Ownership
- 2020-03-29Auction saleSold £500,000 (≈ $625K)
- 1956 → 1956Factory deliveryBrian Lister (works team)full documentation
Works-entered car campaigned by Archie Scott Brown during the 1956 season, built around a Maserati engine in a lightweight tubular chassis.
- 1957 → 1958Private saleOrmsby Issard-Daviespartial documentation
Acquired from the Lister works at the close of the 1956 season; car was raced during 1957–58 with Allan Moore at the wheel.
- → 1993Private saleJohn Beasleypartial documentation
A prominent historic-racing competitor who acquired the car around the mid-1970s and held it until selling to an American collector.
- 1993 → 2007Private saleSyd Silvermanpartial documentation
Well-known American collector and Lister enthusiast who kept the car for roughly fourteen years before passing it on.
- 2007 →Private saleJohn M 'Chip' Fudgepartial documentation
American owner who acquired the car from Silverman in 2007; described as the consignor or most recent prior owner.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownIntermediate storage ownernone documentation
After being part-exchanged for another Lister, the car spent a prolonged period in storage before resurfacing in the mid-1970s.
Competition
- 1954Oulton Park raceDriver: Archie Scott Brown
Scott Brown was initially barred from competing due to his physical disability; after an RAC medical review his licence was reinstated and he returned to racing on Whit-Monday 1954 in the works Lister.
- 19561956 season British sports-car races (various)Driver: Archie Scott BrownThree first-place finishes; second-place finishes at Brands Hatch and Oulton Park
The Lister-Maserati was the works entry throughout the 1956 campaign; engine reliability was a recurring issue despite strong on-track pace.
- —1957–58 season racesDriver: Allan Moore
Car raced in private hands under Ormsby Issard-Davies's ownership with bearded British driver Allan Moore piloting it.
Maintenance & restoration
- —Engine rebuildCrosthwaite & Gardiner
The Maserati twin-cam engine was fully rebuilt by renowned historic-racing specialists Crosthwaite & Gardiner.
The original engine is also present but not currently fitted; the rebuild addresses the reliability shortcomings noted in period.
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