Description
The Bristol 401-403 was outrageously expensive for a 2-litre saloon at the time – only Bentleys, Rolls-Royces and Lagonda cost more in 1949 – but it looked like a spaceship compared with most of its contemporaries.
A rigid chassis, efficient suspension, a smooth and powerful engine, and a light yet well-insulated body combine to give the car an impression of tautness, liveliness and sophistication.
Some will say Bristols merely declined from there, losing their aerodynamic styling, putting on weight and clinging to “advanced” engineering until it became archaic.
The heart of the car’s success was its hemispherical-headed inline six derived from pre-war BMWs, a superb unit, cleverly developed by Bristol, which was sought after for sports and racing cars at the time.
But Bristol made the most of it in the 401. The first 2-litre production saloon to reach 100 mph, its all-aluminium body was exceptionally aerodynamic, aided by door openings operated by push-buttons and the bonnet and boot opening from the inside.
Bristol adopted Carrozzeria Touring’s Superleggera construction well before Aston Martin. Even the aluminium gauge varied: 16 for the tops of the front wings and the bonnet, where pressure could cause dents in a thinner gauge, and 18 elsewhere.
The streamlined, body-colour bumpers with chrome inserts, mounted to the chassis via rubber blocks, were decades ahead of their time.
Other clever details include a bonnet that opens sideways (safer in both directions) or can be removed by undoing a bolt, and a boot lid with a spring-assisted stay.
A total of 618 Bristol 401s were produced.
This example is from the 3rd and final series. It is in very good mechanical and aesthetic condition. It is accompanied by a substantial provenance and maintenance history file.
Recent work carried out:
- New Vredestein Classic tyres
- Dashboard polished with a buffer
- Electric fuel pump (mechanical pump still in place)
- Full service
