Any Lister Bell STR owners?

[300bhp/ton]

I’m seriously considering taking a loan to buy a Lister Bell STR. I simply love these cars and would like to do what I can to own one.

Anyone here got one or built one? Would love to hear of how well it went together and getting it legal. Also what engine you are running.

A 2.5 from a 156 looks the most cost effective. But is it too under powered?

[GTRene]

cost effective...

think about the smiles with extra power and the long built, you only got one shot to get it right ;-)

I would go for the 3.5 yamaha?/lotus engine, 350 normal, 430+ if you want more later...

I wonder what such would cost with that engine in LHD on the road :-)

[Chris-S]

Best place to visit would be https://www.stratosec.com/Forum/forum.php Plenty of folk building at the moment, probably 50/50 Alfa/Toyota power at present, but the Alfa engine is becoming increasingly hard to find (apart from the odd job lot of BNIB crate motors that seem to pop up now and then), as are the parts to keep it going. (For balance, I should add I'm currently building a Midlana with a 166 3.0 motor, but that was supposed to be cheap!).

I built a CAE Corse S some years back and as always wasn't really flush enough to be doing it, so compromised by fitting a totally stock 2l Lancia TC motor. I also bought a 164 donor for the V6 with a view to fitting it later. Long story short, I wasn't satisfied with the power from the 2l, or the stock 3.0 V6, or a mildly tuned one so ended up building a supercharged one...then sold the car.

I'm with Rene, don't compromise, do it the way you really want to right at the start. It will cost you less in the long run, both in money and stress. If you want an Alfa V6, fine, it's a decent motor, but if ultimate power is the goal, then think elsewhere, as getting big power out of the V6 is very expensive.

Personally, if I was wanting another Stratos replica, it would be an LB STR with the supercharged Evora motor. I know a few guys building cars at the moment and from the perspective of an outside but interested observer, I'd say they have the kit very well sorted indeed. Do bear in mind though, individuals experience and expectations vary, so one man's 'piece of wee to build' could well be 'what a mare' to another.

Again, only secondhand knowledge, but IVA doesn't pose any problems, IIRC, almost all go through first time if built with an eye on the manual - no designed-in gotcha's to worry about.


ETA, if you target your screen name as a goal for the power to weight, you'll find it nicely balanced I think. A stock Evora motor would do that nicely.

Edited by Chris-S on Saturday 6th October 09:33

[Fulvisti]

With the 2.5 it will be a quick car, you're not talking supercar quick but quick enough. I was out in mine a while ago with a friend who has a Fiat coupe 20v turbo, he could just keep up in a straight line. My 2.5 has GTA inlet cams and inlet runners, so a little quicker than standard, with maybe a little less low down torque, but with the STR being light I don't notice it so much. And on a recent track day I couldn't shake an integra type R on race tyres, there was nothing in it, I do think he was trying harder than I was though as I'd only just finished building it and it was my first track day in the car. It initially didn't feel as quick as I had expected, but I think it was down to daily driving a turbo diesel and not getting the same torque, now that I'm used to the car around a windy road it picks up speed quicker than expected before the next corner is right on top of you.

I found the build straight forward but I do nuts and bolts for a day job, I'm not much good with wiring, but support from Lister Bell with drawings, advice etc was really good. And also some help from Chris-s above with adapting my old Dino tacho to work with the Alfa ECU. I took four years to build mine for a number of reasons, time, injuries, money, the list goes on, I've seen them done in less than a year on the forum if you've got the time. There's not much extra you have to put in your self parts wise over and above what is supplied with the kit. Engine and gearbox plus the associated wiring, door handles.

I am now thinking of building up a more powerful 3 or 3.2 engine to go in, but more for something to do than more power. Although having a little in reserve to leave that bloody Fiat coupe behind would be nice. The Toyota 2GR-FE engine sounds more like the Dino, but I've always had Fiat's and Lancia's and didn't like the thought of not using an Italian engine, I can understand why the Toyota is popular.

Edited by Fulvisti on Saturday 6th October 22:04

[jason61c]

Has anyone done a toyota build?

[STR_Strat]

I've built a couple of LB's. The first with the Alfa 3.0 on throttle bodies, the second with the Toyota 2gr-fe from the Lotus Evora S.
Both are great fun to drive, but the extra power and torque from the supercharger is awesome.

This is the Toyota vision

[GTRene]

damn...very cool and a very cool picture, also good engine choice if you look for some extra power.

no idea though how such lovely looking LB stratos drives...can you compare it with another more known car?

[renmure]

That's a fabulous photo Dave (tho the angle of the lower lights still make my teeth itch)

Can't offer any input on the Toyota build but have an ongoing Readers Car thread for a 300bhp Alfa engined car car here https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... which should be updated fairly soon.