The <a href="http://www.britishracecar.com/SydSilverman-Lister-Jaguar.htm">Costin-bodied Lister Jaguar</a> I wrote about two weeks ago just sold at auction for $1,100,000.

Details here: http://www.sportscardigest.com/2010-scottsdale-auction-results-gooding-company/

I knew the Lister might sell for crazy money... but geeesh!  

To put that in some kind of context, you could buy three of these for $1,100,000:

(Lola Mark One: Gorgeous. Brilliant. Superb craftsmanship. Great racing history.)  

What old British racecar would you buy if you had "way too much money"?

Many British racecars would be added to the garage if my numders come in but I think my favorite might be Aston Martin's DBR 1/2.

Dougie

If my lottery numbers ever did come up I'd have to go with a pre war car such as an ERA or a Wolseley Hornet.

Give me a race car that won't make me feel guilty about destroying.  Wrecking any of those cars would make me feel worse than the lady that just tripped and fell into the Picasso causing a 6 inch tear.  A TR8 or a MGBV8 will suffice thank you.  Or even better some German car.  I will feel no guilt if I wreck my BMW 2002, just a hit to the wallet.

Wow. Those suggestions just about cover the field, don't they?

Sorry guys,

The Lister Jaguar wins the prize, no doubt about it - it IS the utimate "All British" race car.

Even the Tullius SCCA and Trans AM TR8's and the MGB GT V8's miss the mark, compared to the Lister Jag.

Now, the final MG - the Rover MG - the RV8 - as an SCCA GT2 racer - may have better lap times, but will never replace the Lister Jaguar as the ultimate Brit racer.

Keep them on the track.

Phillip G

Phillip - You must be mistaken...........I'll put the Aston Martin DBR 1/2 up against the Lister Jaguar any day. First, when they do change hands it's not through public auctions, they trade in private sales for multi-millions. The '59 DBR 1/2 recorded wins at Nurburging, Le Mans and Goodwood's Tourist Trophy in securing Aston Martin's Sportscar World Championship. Legendary drivers Stirling Moss, Roy Salvadori, and Carol Shelby praised the Aston not only for it's reliability and durability but most of all it's ease to drive. The beauty of the Aston is obvious even when It's clothes are off.

Dougie

Doug, that is one pretty car, dressed or undressed. Not many look that good either way. I might suggest that the Cooper-Bristol Formula car might rank close with that gorgeous engine and space frame.
It would be hard for me to choose one over the other though, between a Lister-Jag or the Aston Martin. I was fortunate to see and hear them both race at the Goodwood Reunion I attended a few years ago and both would stir something in a gearheads soul. I'm looking forward to seeing and hearing Phillip's big V8 rumble to the grid this year. That will be exciting as well.

I'd rather have the Aston than the Lister too... for that matter, there are several Jaguars I'd much rather have than the Lister. At that same Gooding auction (linked to above) a 1956 Jaguar D-Type racecar sold for $3,740,000. As high as that price is, the D-Type probably does appeal to me three times as much as the Lister.  

Know anything about John Tojeiro? He was Brian Lister's competition, and he also built cars around Jaguar drivetrains. I haven't found a Tojeiro Jag to photograph yet, but from what I've seen in other people's photographs his chassis designs (and his bodywork) look a lot more elegant than Lister's. Here's a link to a very nice <a href="http://www.finecars.cc/en/detail/car/20567/index.html">Tojeiro Climax</a>.

Curtis, here's a shot of a Tojeiro Jag that RM is auctioning. One of the Ecurie Ecosse team cars from '58.

This one won't go cheap - just came on the Sale block at RM Auction.
http://www.classicrallies.com/blog/index.php?/archives/2026-RM-Auctions-offers-1963-Ferrari-250-GTO-for-private-treaty-sale.html

OH MY GOD, THE TOGEIRO JAG  !
O K  ... the ultimate, and that photo has to be the best.  Sports Car Graphic ?

Keep them on the track

Phillip G

I want one of these: