1957 Bristol 405 For Sale

SLJ Hackett are delighted to offer this fine example of a rare Bristol 405 Saloon from 1957. This car is presented in its attractive original specification of Deep Grey (now Rolls Royce Oyster Grey Metallic) paired with Spanish Red leather upholstery.


Originally fitted with overdrive, heater unit, windscreen washer, fog, spot and reading lamps.


It has had an interesting history. The car’s first owner was the successful film producer, Betty Box OBE, who purchased it in the year she was producing ‘Doctor at Large’ with Dirk Bogarde and Brigitte Bardot. Its subsequent owners included Geoffrey Burgon, composer of the theme music to Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (with Alec Guinness) and Brideshead Revisited (with Jeremy Irons).


It featured on the Bristol Owners Club stand at the Classic Car Show at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in 1995. In 2010, it was restored by an engineer well known in Bristol Club circles. He resprayed it in Rolls Royce Oyster Grey Metallic, having fitted neat supplementary rear indicator lamps to the body, as well as a high-level stop lamp, which provide a significant safety improvement. Subsequently, it won the Filton Trophy at the Bristol Owners Club Concours at the Old Naval College, Greenwich in 2011.


It was featured in Classic & Sports Car magazine (August 2014): ‘The New Face of Filton’. Pitched against a Bristol 404 and 405 Drophead, each of which would command more than double the asking price of this example, it was the personal predilection of the writer who commented: ‘Driving the brace (sic) of low-run models is a privilege … but there is just something about the 405’. In Michael Palmer’s ‘Bristol Cars, Model by Model’ (2015), it is illustrated on pages 46, 51 & 52.


The current owner - a Bristol enthusiast, well-known to us - has continued to cherish the car since purchasing it from us 5 years ago, spending nearly £20, 000 on it. Improvements include:
• Dual Pump Fuel System
• Alloy Radiator,
• Bluetooth-enabled 1-2-3 Electronic Ignition
• Electric Fan (Blow-Type)
• Pioneer Multimedia System with Flip-Out Display, Apple Car Play etc
• The classic Ekco Transistor Radio, which was removed can be made available, if required.
• High quality Focal Speakers and Crossover Quartz control to Dashboard Clock
• 5 Pirelli Cinturato Tyres
• Rienz Head Gasket
• New Brake Shoes and Pads
• New Rear Parcel Shelf
• New Carpet
• New Door Glass
• New Battery
• New Windscreen
• Most significantly, he has replaced the existing first gear with a Synchromesh First, together with a new Lay Shaft with an improved gear ratio (the removed gearbox will be provided, if required).


The owner has commissioned a full Condition Report from the engineers at Spencer Lane-Jones; and this will be made available to serious enquirers. The 405 is, arguably, the most drivable and usable 2-litre Bristol of all; and this attractive example drives, handles and stops as well as any we know.




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