Description
From its first race this 1954 Warrior-Bristol has been defined not just by its innovative design, but by its relentless pursuit of the checkered flag on three continents for over 70 years and counting..
Origins of A Racer
Rod Nuckey, a young English driver from the family that owned the Warrior Tap & Die Company, acquired a Cooper-Bristol Formula 2 Mark II (chassis CB Mk23153) in 1953. Racing it for Ecurie Richmond, he won several races that season before a serious crash at Snetterton ruined the chassis. The salvaged engine and transmission were then set aside for a new sports car project.
This new car became the Warrior-Bristol, designed by engineer Bernard “Bernie” Roger. At 35, Roger was a seasoned talent, having apprenticed at Alta Car and Engineering, served as chief mechanic for Mike Hawthorn and Ecurie Richmond, and—critically—already designed and built the first Cooper-Bristol sports car in 1953. The Warrior is considered his first complete, ground-up design.
To meet Nuckey’s request for a sports racer, Roger constructed an entirely new, lightweight tube-frame chassis of the Superleggera type. While similar in concept to John Tojeiro’s contemporary H-frame design (which later evolved into the AC Ace), Roger’s chassis distinguished itself with a De Dion rear suspension using torsion bars, a lighter frame, and Cooper 4-lug wheels. The aluminum body was crafted by Williams and Pritchard of North London, who also clothed the Tony Crook-Jack Walton Cooper and the Bristol 450 racers. Originally fitted with a front transverse leaf spring, the car was quickly updated to front torsion bars. A head fairing and wrap-around screen were added in 1955. The car carried the registration SAR 336.
Immediate Success in the UK (1954-1955)
Raced extensively by Nuckey, Roger Biss, and J. D. Lomas, the Warrior proved instantly competitive at Britain's premier circuits: Silverstone, Goodwood, Aintree, and Snetterton. Its standout achievement came at the 1954 British Grand Prix for sports cars, where Nuckey drove to 9th overall and 3rd in the competitive 2-liter class, finishing behind legends like Peter Collins, Roy Salvadori, and Carroll Shelby.
Dominance in Asia (1956-1970)
Sold in 1955, the Warrior began a new chapter with Bernie Arnold in Malaysia. It became a stalwart of the Macau Grand Prix (1956-1958) and set a 2-liter course record in Malaysian sprints. Its greatest triumph came in 1960, winning the Johore Coronation Grand Prix outright. Later fitted with a rare Jaguar 2. 4-liter engine, the car claimed victory in the sports car event at the 1970 Singapore Grand Prix.
Historic Racing Legacy Australia and the United States
The Jaguar motor was replaced with an original spec Bristol motor when the Warrior was
restored by Ian Boughton in Western Australia after he bought it in 1978.
After restoration in 1980, the Warrior embarked on a second competitive life in intensive historic racing across Australia before arriving in the United States in 1999 with the current owner.
Today, under the care of vintage racer Jack P, it continues to uphold its legacy at premier events like the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca, competing in the Del Monte Trophy and Spirit of Pebble Beach groups.
This car is sold on a Bill of Sale. Highly documented. Email for additional information including a video walk around and cold start.
Price is $320, 000. 00 US
