1959 Lister Costin-Jaguar Sports Racer
- Engine
- 3.8L DOHC inline-six, three Weber 45 DCO3 carburetors, ~300 bhp at 6,000 rpm
Chassis BHL 123 is a 1959 Lister-Jaguar Costin-bodied sports racer, one of a small production run featuring aluminium bodywork shaped by aeronautical engineer Frank Costin and powered by the twin-cam 3.8-litre Jaguar XK six. Acquired new by Briggs Cunningham's celebrated American racing team and prepared by chief mechanic Alfred Momo, it was driven by Stirling Moss and Ivor Bueb at Sebring in 1959 before Walt Hansgen piloted it to four victories and the SCCA C-Modified National Championship that same year. The car passed through several subsequent owners in the US and UK and received a full restoration by Lister specialists before joining a long-term American collection.
Ownership
- 2019-01-17Auction saleEstimate US$2,000,000 – US$2,600,000
- 1959 → 1961Factory deliveryBriggs Cunningham (Team Cunningham)full documentation
Car was prepared for racing by team chief mechanic Alfred Momo and campaigned in SCCA and endurance events by top-line drivers including Moss and Hansgen.
- 1961 →Private saleBob Grossmanpartial documentation
Prominent eastern US sports car dealer and racing driver who subsequently raced the car.
- → 1983Acquisition unknownWilliam Symonspartial documentation
Acquired the car a few years after Crossingham's ownership and sold it in 1983.
- 1983 →Private saleChris Drakepartial documentation
UK-based owner who held the car before it returned to the United States.
- 1990 →Private saleDan Marguliespartial documentation
UK-based owner who registered the car under FIA Historic paperwork.
- 2000 →Acquisition unknownSilverman collectionpartial documentation
US-based collector who had the car restored by Lister specialists in Oklahoma City, with further work carried out in 2008 and 2009; actively used the car in historic competition against period rivals.
- Date unknownPrivate salePhil Fornopartial documentation
Raced the car with co-drivers Ed Crawford and Dick Thompson.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownTony Crossinghampartial documentation
Campaigned the car in the mid-1970s.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownDean G. Wattspartial documentation
US owner who undertook a restoration of the car before it was sent back to the UK around 1990.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownUnspecified UK ownersnone documentation
Car passed through several unnamed hands in the UK before returning to the US.
Competition
- 19591959 12 Hours of SebringDriver: Ivor BuebDNF — disqualified
Moss co-drove; car qualified second on the grid but was disqualified after Moss accepted outside assistance to fetch fuel following an early pit-stop error. Hansgen also drove before the retirement.
- 1959SCCA1959 Virginia International RacewayDriver: Walt Hansgen1st
One of four victories taken by Hansgen as part of his championship-winning campaign.
- 1959SCCA1959 Cumberland International RacesDriver: Walt Hansgen1st
Part of Hansgen's run of dominant results contributing to the national title.
- 1959SCCA1959 BridgehamptonDriver: Walt Hansgen1st
- 1959SCCA1959 Watkins GlenDriver: Walt Hansgen1st
- 1959SCCA1959 SCCA C-Modified National ChampionshipDriver: Walt HansgenChampion
Title secured via four wins and additional second and fourth place finishes across the season.
- 1959SCCA1959 Thompson RacewayDriver: Briggs Cunningham3rd
Team owner Cunningham drove the car personally to a podium result.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2000RestorationThe Vintage Connection
Comprehensive restoration undertaken by Lister marque specialists around the time the car entered the Silverman collection.
Workshop located in Oklahoma City.
- 2008Service
Restoration refresh carried out to maintain the car's condition.
Part of two consecutive years of recommissioning work.
- 2009Service
Further refresh of the previous restoration work.
- —Restoration
Full restoration carried out by Dean G. Watts prior to the car's return to the UK around 1990.
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