Description
Note: the phone number stated by car&classic is incorrect!
The maker of this vehicle was “Bristol Aeroplane Ltd.” In Bristol—where more than 40, 000 aircraft were built, largely powered by the company’s own engines.
After the Second World War, they moved into car building. The basis was the BMW icons 328 and 327; the rights for England were held by the racing and sports car manufacturer FN Frazer&Nash (later AFN). These rights were taken over, which meant they could build very good cars straight away and be successful. And: Bristol was allowed to do everything better than BMW… Helped by Dr. Fritz Fiedler, who at Bristol held the same role as at BMW: as chief engineer. At BMW he wouldn’t have been able to achieve anything—there, they only brought their first car to market from Munich in 1952: the heavy, weak (65PS) and rather old-fashioned-looking BMW 501 (“baroque angel”).
From the start, they adopted the basic engine design of the BMW 328 dream sports car (141 race wins, including the 1940 Mille Miglia) with hemispherical combustion chambers, angled valves and an exceptional valve-control setup. The development potential hidden in that engine is shown by the fact that it was even used in Formula 2—and even Formula 1 races (Cooper-Bristol)—and scored points! Externally, Bristol’s engines are barely distinguishable from those of the historic BMW 328, which has led to some corresponding BMW conversions…
For a firm with long-standing experience in aircraft construction, aerodynamics was obviously central. The “401” model had a drag coefficient that, in 1949, was the “world record in car building”. Pure streamlined form! Because of its slipstreaming characteristics, the 401 earned the nickname “Aerodyne”.
Nomen est omen: at the time, the 401 belonged to the tiny group of “100 MPH Cars”, meaning it ran faster than 160 km/ h (which even today—more than 75 years later—is still pretty respectable).
The “401” has a host of features that were well ahead of their time around 1950:
• Bodywork entirely made of aluminium
• Bodywork built in Superleggera style (patent of “Carrozzeria Touring”)—Bristol pioneered this technique; Aston Martin only followed in 1958 with the DB4
• Suspension with—long—torsion bars (adjustable!), meaning low mass and sensitive response
• Central lubrication, or one-shot lubrication of all suspension bearings; leather coverings on the front wheel suspension
• Engine bonnet opening to the side (from both sides!)—particularly safe
• Walnut dashboard (solid) with 7 instruments (including oil pressure and oil temperature—so the engine’s health is always in view) and numerous switches (like in an aircraft…)
• Good engine cooling thanks to (invisible) side vent slots in the engine bay
• Adjustable steering wheel
• Rapid adjustment of the seats—and the backrests are adjustable as well, multiple times!
• Ignition timing adjustable from the dashboard (important around 1950 due to fluctuating fuel quality)
• Engine running characteristics adjustable from the dashboard (like a manual “cruise control”)
• Sun visors as rolling shutters, i. e. infinitely (!) adjustable
• Front brake drums with 2 hydraulic cylinders, meaning 2 leading shoes with self-energising action (you don’t need a brake force booster!)—with excellent braking performance (the TÜV report shows it!)
• Additional switchable electric fuel pump fitted—to fill the float chambers of the 3 Solex carburettors before starting
• Original indicators are fitted—and they work together with the blinkers!
• And plenty more besides
The car has been assessed by the FIVA and an FIVA ID card has been issued. Classification: A2.
The last TÜV inspection for the 401 was in June 2026. Examiner’s result: “no identifiable defects”. Next TÜV is due 6/ 2028—so there’s nothing to stop immediate registration.
And one more thing: in 1953 the motoring magazine “Motor Sport” selected the Bristol 401 as the “Best Car in Britain”. And at the time there were (still) many world-class British car makers such as Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Lagonda, Aston Martin, Jaguar, AC, Allard, Daimler, Wolseley, Riley, etc.! So it’s no surprise that the Bristol was among the most expensive cars on the market—only the top models from RR, Bentley and Lagonda were more expensive… (but apparently not better).
You should also allow yourself something that nobody else has! For the joy of driving… For enthusiasm for engineering… Out of respect for exemplary workmanship…
All copyright for this advert belongs to the provider of this vehicle.
