The Bristol 400-Series came about as a result of World War Two, with the support of the War Reparations Board.
An agreement was made for the Bristol Aeroplane Company to be given the production rights to the BMW 326, 327 and 328 models, complete with their impressive six-cylinder engines, with much of the engineering led by BMW engineer Fritz Fiedler.
Bristol, though, wanted to make the car its own and when the 400 appeared in 1947, it was essentially a longer and lower version of the already elegant BMW, hand-finished and sold to a premium market, as a strikingly elegant two-door sports coupé.
VXS 248 has a fascinating history, having been supplied new to a private owner in Wiltshire in 1948. It then left the UK in the early 1950s to spend most of its life in Italy, before being repatriated and re-registered in the UK in 2010.
The car was at some point painted red, before being stripped and repainted in its original off-white. The Oxblood interior, meanwhile, was retrimmed when the car returned to the UK. It was re-registered in 2016 after being stored in a private collection, and has formed part of a separate collection since.
Given its age and sporting heritage, the Bristol appears to be eligible for the Mille Miglia Retrospective.
The History and Paperwork
UK V5C
MOT, tax and emissions zone exempt
Manufactured in July 1948
Factory record acquired by the Bristol Owners and Drivers Association shows it was originally supplied to a customer in Wiltshire in 1948 and was registered as NEC 888
Letter included to assist with retrieving original registration from DVLA
Correspondence showing the car returned to the UK from Rome as part-payment for a Bentley in 2010
Copy of Bristol 400 workshop manual
The Condition
Older restoration repainted in original off-white
Retrimmed in Oxblood leather to a fabulous standard
Very good chrome and trim
Original wood-panelled dash
Recarpeted
Potential for some minor cosmetic improvements
With its elegant, streamlined curves and aero-inspired cockpit, the Bristol 400 is a fine-looking and extremely handsome machine. It was restored some time ago and still looks fabulous, but there are a couple of areas of the exterior that would benefit from minor fettling – notably some corrosion to the door bottoms and boot lid, where there is bubbling under the paint.
Otherwise, it’s stunning and the chassis, glass and trim all appear to be in fine condition.
Inside, it’s beautiful, having been retrimmed in Oxblood leather upon its return to the UK in 2010. The seats and carpets are in fabulous order, as are the door trims, while the car retains its solid wood dash and original roller sun-visor and umbrella pockets.
The Mechanics
2.0-litre straight six
Four-speed manual transmission
Starts on the button and runs smoothly
Reported by the vendor to drive well
Although it has been stored in collections for most of the time in recent memory, the Bristol is still in fine working order and fired up on the button with minimal choke at the time of our photographs.
The six-cylinder BMW-derived engine is smooth and quiet, holding an even idle, steady temperature and good oil pressure, with minimal exhaust smoke.
It engages all four forward gears and reverse as it ought to and the brakes and steering appear fine, though the car hasn’t been used a tremendous amount in recent years so a full inspection is recommended before it is driven any distance – and certainly before you attempt the Mille Miglia!
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