Lister Jaguar BHL 20 – 442 PPP

A survivor with an unbroken history
Among the few Listers produced between 1954 and 1959, the BHL 20 chassis occupies a unique place. Part of the latest generation of ‘little Listers’, it was sold bare in 1959 to officer James MacKreth and was initially fitted with MG mechanics and registered as 442 PPP on 7 October 1960.
Three years later, its destiny changed: David A. Knobbs replaced the modest MG engine with a 3.4-litre Jaguar six-cylinder, entrusting the chassis's transformation to tuner Ken Eaton. Under his expert hands, BHL 20 shed its frail appearance to become a true Lister Knobbly Jaguar, ready to compete with the big boys.
on soon left its mark on the bodywork: in the late 1960s, a crash seriously damaged the car, which was temporarily taken out of service. But in 1974, Jeremy Broad, a well-known figure in Jaguar XK circles, undertook its resurrection. Entrusted once again to Ken Eaton, it was fitted with a 3.8-litre Jaguar E-Type engine and returned to the racetrack. In 1976, during the Prescott Hillclimb, bad luck struck again: Broad crashed into a tree, severely bending the chassis.
This long enforced hiatus, punctuated by a succession of bodyworks – some dubious, others authentic Williams & Pritchard – never altered the car's continuity. The arrival of a genuine factory body, revealing the original colours beneath the paint, definitively anchored BHL 20 in its identity.
In 2005, Broad finally sold the car to Trevor Groom, a close friend of Norman Dewis and a well-known figure in Jaguar racing circles, who meticulously restored it to its ultimate configuration: a Lister Jaguar Knobbly, with its original chassis, authentic components (tanks, Girling brakes, Dunlop wheels, dashboard) and official papers, including the precious original ‘buff log book’.
It then changed hands and was brought to France by us, where it had several owners, all of whom entered it in Le Mans Classic, among other events.
The last owner undertook a meticulous restoration of the bodywork to revive its shape and give it the shine it has today. Fully serviced before Le Mans Classic 2025, it is ready to take to the track.
Today, BHL 20 is unanimously recognised as the only chassis legitimately bearing this number, its history having been confirmed by Doug Nye himself and clarified in the face of confusion by certain authors. It is a regular feature at the most prestigious historic events: Le Mans Classic, the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, and FIA championships dedicated to 1950s sports prototypes.

An unquestionable pedigree
• Original BHL 20 chassis with registration number 442 PPP
• Jaguar conversion by Ken Eaton in 1963
• Successive owners: James MacKreth, David A. Knobbs, John Harper, Jeremy Broad, Trevor Groom, current one in France.
• Significant accidents and documented reconstructions (late 1960s, Prescott 1976)
• Knobbly bodywork by Williams & Pritchard with traces of factory paint
• Period documents (log book, modern V5C, FIA/MSA passport)
• Regular presence at major historic events

Conclusion
The Lister Jaguar Knobbly is more than a car: it is a symbol. A symbol of British audacity in the face of the big manufacturers, a symbol of a golden age of motor racing when creativity and courage could beat financial resources.