Bristol 401

Many more pictures including restoration available by going to our own website

The Bristol. one of the rarest classic cars available today. Built between 1948 - 1953 by the Bristol Aeroplane Company the car was ahead of it's time. With push door handle openings & a body design creating a drag coefficient of less than Cd 0. 36 which is great by today's standards & remarkable for the time. A testament to the Aircraft background of the company.

Bodywork

The car has receipts on file for £12. 00 for works carried out to the body & related items. including full respray of the car. whilst in a body of. bare metal state in 2009-2010. The receipts are from Bruce Young Coachworks in Worcestershire. a pre-war Aston Martin specialist.
Engine. Mechanics & Interior Restoration
Bought around 2010 by the previous owner a Major. He then set about finishing the restoration. As much money had been spent on the body. the attentions was turned to the mechanics & interior.
The engine was fully rebuilt. along with attention to many other mechanical areas such as suspension. axle. brakes etc etc.

Here is a brief list which is not the complete picture:

All new engine bearings
New high lift camshaft
New oil pump
New oil cooler
New water pump
Back axle re-build
Front suspension re-build
New brakes. pipes etc
New wiring loom
Electric fan
Alternator
Starter motor

The car also has some 403 upgrades including

Anti roll bar
BWCR5 re-built gearbox
Dampers
Front seats
T
he cars clocks & instruments have been re-built to "quartz movement" by Speedy Cables.

There are approximately £10. 00 worth of receipts for parts alone. during this period of ownership from 2010 - 2013. The owners has stated that many many man hours have gone into the car during his ownership. In fact on the back of some paperwork is a note that approximately 1000 hours went into the car. A receipt for some small amount of labour from The Classic Car workshops shows £42 per hour. You do the maths. as I can only guess at the amount of money this car has had spent in the last 4 years or so. but it must be approaching £50. 00 - £60. 00 including the labour elements.

The car now

The car is superb. Having had a full re-trim recently to finish the car of. Drive is fantastic. You really can tell money has been spent underneath as-well as on the top. what a difference in the finish of the mechanics makes to the ride. It is smooth. quick & effortless. This car could potentially go on any European or other tour with ease.

History File

Included in the file is the original buff log book. This shows the car was first registered on 29th August 1951 to Enterprise Garage & Eng Co Ltd. Gomand St. Hereford. & the first & subsequent owners where from Gloucestershire. It also shows the car is registered today. still on it's original number.

Also on file are the many many receipts already mentioned for parts etc. Further there are a large amount of various photos including restoration in an enclosed photo album.
A very rare find to begin with. but in this condition a dream find for the collector.

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