*** Car is being sold with original registration LHU310 ***
Highlights
- Incredible interior condition
- Lots of money spent during its history
- Overhauled gearbox
- Passed last MOT with no advisories
- Private registration not included
The Appeal
As the Second World War wrapped up the Bristol Aeroplane Company found themselves at a bit of a crossroads. With no need for their bombers, maybe it was time to use their craftsmanship to create a luxury car. The 400 was their first attempt and just under 500 examples were ever built which means it should be very rare today indeed.
This example is presented wonderfully in its striking red paint job. Over its life it has a lot of love and attention poured over it and today it could be one of the best examples out there.
The History and Paperwork
- Rolling off the Bristol production line on the 23rd of July 1948 this car has gone on to live an illustrious life with a lot of care lavished over it
- It is hard to trace its earlier history today, but you may wish to dig deeper with owners’ clubs and registries to work out the full picture
- What we do know is that by about the year 2000 it was living happily in Gloucestershire with its 5th owner
- It is this owner that does a lot of work to keep her on the road
- With new parts galore, such as a new radiator, a new water pump, and a new overhauled gearbox. There are a lot more parts that have been fitted that we will get into as we go through the listing
- Sadly, the previous owner was reluctant to pass on these invoices and documents to the current owner
- This means that there are only a few pieces of paperwork that will come with this car
- The current owner has been in contact with the previous owner, and they have spoken about the cars time throughout their 20-plus year ownership
- All in around about £30,000 is said to have been spent on this Bristol in the past two decades
- The V5 is present so a change of ownership will be nice and easy
- Within the paperwork, you will also find an appraisal carried out by the garage that look after this car for the previous owner
- This appraisal documents the car's condition at the time and is well worth a read.
- It is now time for you to add to this car's history, as you seldom see these cars come up for sale this is a wonderful opportunity for you
The Interior
- Beautiful wood panelled dash
- Sumptuous leather seats
- Amazing condition
You wouldn’t think that this was Bristol’s first attempt at a luxury car, it is well throughout and trimmed with some high-end materials. The mix of wood, leather, and Bakelite switches transport you back to 1948. There really is nothing like the cabin of a classic British car.
As soon as you open the suicide doors you are met with a well presented interior indeed, the leather seats for instance look in amazing condition. You’d expect to see some wear to the driver’s seat but it is presented in great condition, it is more than likely that these seats have been re-trimmed at some point in their lifetime but that shouldn’t matter when you see the condition of them. All of the passengers’ seats are also presented well. The rear bench looks like the best seat in the house, with armrests on either side it must be like travelling in an armchair.
The door cards match the brown and cream theme of the seats and are presented very well. Much like the door cards, the carpet has been finished in a dark brown material which ties the whole interior together nicely. Luckily for you, the headliner also looks in great condition.
When you sit back and relax in this car your eyes will be drawn to the perfect vintage Smiths dials and toggle switches that help keep the car running in tip-top shape. All of these knobs, dials, and gauges work as they should providing important driving information as you travel along to the next classic car show.
The wonderful condition of the interior does not stop with the cabin, upon opening the boot you are met with a very clean and big space. Along with the jack, you are met with the spare wheel which is hidden neatly on the boot lid.
Overall, the interior condition of this rare Bristol 400 is presented amazingly well for you. All the vital features are in great condition. Whenever you get inside this car to go on a drive you will always be comfortable and should always have a big smile on your face as you get to experience the thrills of classic motoring.
The Exterior
- Perfectly sculpted exterior
- The chrome is in great condition
- It will sit perfectly in your collection
It is possible that Bristol used their rudimentary knowledge of aerodynamics when designing the exterior of this 400. With sweeping lines all over the body, it is more a piece of art than it is a classic car with show winning potential.
There is no way that you will be losing this vehicle in a car park anytime soon, its striking red paint glints in the sunlight, and its colour matching wheels are beautiful with their chrome hubcaps. As you might expect with a car of this age there are a few areas of the paint that have some damage, but importantly there doesn’t appear to be any areas of paint bubbling that would indicate a potential rust issue.
It is not only the paint that looks great but also all of the chrome brightwork that is adorning the exterior of this luxury classic car. Both the front and rear bumpers are presented in very good condition, there doesn’t appear to be any obvious pitting to the chrome.
You will be able to spend hours pawing over the exterior looks of this rare car, as it is presented in such wonderful condition then why not enter it into a few classic car shows throughout your ownership. This car will look amazing sitting within your collection.
The Mechanics
- Refurbished gearbox
- Lovely running condition
- Lots of new parts
The Bristol name will be synonymous with many of you for their famous planes of the Second World War. However, in peacetime, there was very little need for fast, lightweight bombers. Using all of their manufacturing proses they pressed the 400 into production, and it was a very capable car for its time.
The 2.0l engine that is fitted to this 400 was capable of producing 80hp and could push on to nearly 100mph.
The power is then fed through a four-speed manual gearbox to the rear wheels. As we have previously mentioned the gearbox on this example has recently been replaced by a refurbished unit to cure an issue with the overdrive gear. This is not the only mechanical work carried out during its recent history.
The power is then fed through a four-speed manual gearbox to the rear wheels. As we have previously mentioned the gearbox on this example has recently been replaced by a refurbished unit to cure an issue with the overdrive gear. This is not the only mechanical work carried out during its recent history.
Starting with the radiator, this has been replaced for a new unit. There is a new cylinder head with hardened valves, a new water pump, a new distributor, a new clutch thrust & slave cylinder, new rear dampers, and a new crown wheel with accompanying pinion, there is apparently an issue with the ball bearing at the bottom of the lubrication oil container.
As you can see there has been a lot of work carried out on this Bristol 400 and it is now your chance to benefit from all of this time, money, and effort. When you get in and turn the key it comes to life and then you are away on some exciting adventure.
Summary
What’s not to love about this Bristol, it is rare, well maintained, beautifully presented, and comfortable to drive. It really has everything going for it.
As you don’t see many of these, this one has come back to the market due to a sale agreed but withdrawn due to personal reasons. Giving you this is a rare opportunity to own a quirky and wonderful piece of British automotive history. Don’t miss out on this great chance.
Notice to bidders
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*
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