1951 Bristol 401
Highlights
- Attractive Bristol in lovely condition
- Over £35,000 spent on engine and gearbox
- Well known car, veteran of numerous European trips and rallies
- Comprehensive and very detailed history
The Appeal
Built in Filton near Bristol, this star of the Earls Court Motor Show took centre stage of the Bristol Aeroplane Company stand when launched in 1948. With advanced aerodynamics and futuristic features like flush door handles, ground breaking flush glazing and tapered boot with no external handle it wowed the crowds. It had an updated version of BMW’s M328 two litre six cylinder engine that produced a healthy 82bhp.
This example is one of less than 20 still on UK roads and is a well known car in the Bristol Owners Club. The enthusiastic seller has owned the Bristol since 2010, and over the past 14 years has covered over 30,000 miles on European trips and club tours.
Every journey has been documented in a diary and mileages tally exactly. When purchased in 2010 he discovered that the engine block that had previously been “stitched” was now damaged beyond further repair so a replacement block was sourced and a new engine was built at a cost of over £23,000.
The gearbox was also rebuilt and an Overdrive added for more comfortable cruising; that added a further £8,800! There are invoices on file that total in excess of £35,000 spent in the recent past.
Previously the Bristol was the subject of a full restoration in Germany during the late 1980s when it was painted its current red which is in fact Porsche India Red that suits the soft curves of the car.
The interior appears to be original, trimmed in natural Nubuck hide, with beige carpets and a fabulous Art Deco style wooden dashboard with period instruments.
The History and Paperwork
- Built by Bristol Aeroplane Company in 1951
- First registered in South Wales in March 1951 as PPD 5
- Buff Logbook showing three Owners, all in South Wales
- Exported to Germany in early 1980s
- Restored 1985-1987 with colour change from dark green to red
- Imported back to the UK in 1987, two further owners
- Purchased by the Seller in 2010 at approx 30,000 miles, receipt on file
- Old “stitched” engine discarded, replaced with correct earlier block and rebuilt between 2011-12, all itemised invoices on file
- Gearbox rebuilt and Overdrive added, invoice on file
- Large and comprehensive file of invoices and paperwork stretching back to early 1970s
- Further file of invoices from its restoration in Germany
- Old MoT certificates, earliest being 1984 at 18,837 miles
- MoTs corroborate mileage
- Reregistered as GSU758 on return from Germany, correspondence on file
- Old Blue V5 document from previous owner 1987-1994
- Features in LKJ Setrights book on Bristol Cars
- Hand written diary of all journeys from 2011 to present, with mileages
- Laminated guide to dashboard switchgear
- Copy of Bristol Spares catalogue
- Includes 9 plastic boxes of useful small spares, fuses, spark plugs etc
- Original BRISTOL showroom display numberplate form Kensington showroom
- A selection of Tour and Rally plaques
- Large wood Bristol 2 litre sign, approx 3 foot diameter
- Red Bristol elasticated fitted car cover included
The Condition
- Lovely example, older restoration
- Original natural Nubuck interior
- Superb wood dash with Art Deco style gauges, all appear to work correctly
- Original Ecko radio with roof mounted speaker
- Smart original black and cream twin spoke steering wheel
- Beige carpets with various marks and wear, would respond well to cleaning
- Seats in undamaged condition, soft suede-like Nubuck material
- Seats show various small marks, again could be cleaned.
- Matching door cards with pockets, some marks
- Clean roof lining, no damage
- Attractive red paintwork with minor marks and paint damage –see photographs
- 16” steel wheels with Bristol hubcaps, all in acceptable condition
- Lightly worn set of Michelin Pilot X tyres, matching unused spare wheel and tyre
- Large boot space with dark grey carpet, all clean
In overall lovely condition the Bristol has proved to be highly reliable since it received its new engine in 2012. A look through the comprehensive history file proves that it has successfully completed numerous European journeys, with all mileages and comments noted.
All the work over the years has been carefully documented and every invoice is on file. The red paintwork is in presentable condition with minor blemishes and cracks in places. On the inside everything is nicely original with no significant wear or damage. It could be easily improved with a weekend of cleaning.
The Mechanics
- 2 litre straight six built in 2011-12
- Triple carburretors
- 403 camshaft and pistons
- Remote oil cooler and filter
- Steady 55psi oil pressure on tick over
- Thermostatic electric fan
- Rebuilt gearbox with Overdrive
- Rebuilt cylinder head for unleaded petrol
- Bonnet hinges on both sides for easy access- see photographs
- Upgraded Alfin front brake drums
- Stainless steel rear exhaust, sounds sporty
- Tidy corrosion-free underside with small amount of oil in places
- Clean and tidy engine bay
- No excessive smoke form the exhaust
Summary
We don’t think there can be many Bristol 401s left that are as lovely as this example. Always sought after by those “in the know” and highly regarded by Bristol experts the 401 is the epitome of a British sports saloon. Built by an aircraft manufacturer it has lots of advanced thinking and was very sophisticated in period. Even now some of the details and engineering are fresh and unique.
Well known in the Bristol Owner’s Club, and chosen as a feature car in LKJ Setright’s marque history, this 401 will be sure to give its new owner many years of exclusive and enjoyable motoring.
BEFORE YOU BUY
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:
✓ The seller is registered as a private seller which means consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not come into effect. However, you are still covered by Car & Classic’s own Terms and Conditions..
✓ We request that a non-refundable fee be paid if you are the lucky winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted Please refer to our helpful FAQs and T&Cs for specific rates.
✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is Where Is’ basis and without warranty. Photos and descriptions are solely for guidance purposes and it's customary to carry out a full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase for your own peace of mind.
✓ VAT is included in the buyer's deposit. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.
✓ We want a smooth transaction just as much as you do and as such we run all UK-registered cars and motorbikes for sale on Car & Classic through an online HPI check to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing, allowing you to bid with confidence.
✓ We also check whether vehicles are recorded as being written off as part of an insurance total loss claim at the time an advert is placed on Car & Classic and we helpfully provide write-off category labels (Cat C/D/S/N) for your assistance. However, the presence or absence of a label does not guarantee the vehicle’s status and it is always worthwhile carrying out your own full vehicle history check before making an offer on a vehicle.
✓ Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection
or delivery. Importing vehicles may result in additional customs duties and import taxes so it’s worth checking beforehand.. If requested, we may refer you to a third-party shipping company who can help. For more details and to speak to the team, email [email protected]
Vehicle specification
- Year 1951
- Make Bristol
- Model 401
- Colour Red
- Odometer 61,959 Miles
- Engine size 1998
Listing Details
- Seller Type Private
- Town Chichester
- Location Sussex
- Country United Kingdom
The Gallery
Make an offer
This seller is open to offers. Enter the amount you'd like to pay and if your offer is accepted, a member of the team will be in touch.
Under offer
This seller has accepted an offer.
Click the star to watch the listing and keep an eye on it in the favourites section of your account, or search for something similar.