The Costin Lister has a very business-like interior. Just four gauges fill the dash:  oil temperature, water temperature, oil pressure and tachometer. The steering wheel is modern, as is the fire suppression system. Transmission was a D-Type four speed with close ratio gearing (ratios 2.14:1, 1.63:1, 1.27:1, 1:1). Because the engine and transmission are mounted far back on the chassis, the shift lever is bent forward for driver convenience. A triple plate racing clutch and low mass flywheel were used. The flywheel is a very small diameter, requiring the starter to be mounted behind the bellhousing, facing forward, directly in front of the shift linkage.

Lister was criticized for the poor seats in early cars. For the Costin, the seats were elegantly upholstered by Cox of Watford. In the photo at the top of this page, there is an air scoop visible at the right bottom. Costin equipped these cars with a patented tonneau cover of his own design. At speed, air drawn from a high pressure area under the bonnet would inflate the tonneau, which would cover the passenger's seat, smoothing the aerodynamics of the body. Excess air would be vented out through the rear bodywork, aiding in brake cooling. Drivers found this arrangement hot and uncomfortable.

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About the author -Michael Frank is Vice President and Webmaster of the Jaguar Touring Club. His red 2+2 E-Type is a familiar sight at JCNA events in the Northeast. Currently, he is building a reproduction of the 1963 Cunningham Lightweight E-Type.
 

Copyright © 2002 Michael Frank, New York, all rights reserved.

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© 2001 JAGUAR CLUBS OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.