A new arrival to Oldtimer Australia is this lovely, beautifully restored 1948 Bristol 400.

There is documentation on file that states that this particular example was completed on the 9th July 1948 and despatched to Messrs Commonwealth Motors Ltd in Melbourne on the 14th July 1948 together with three other cars. It was delivered in its current colour of light blue metallic. Sun visors were fitted to the car as an option and the spare wheel was mounted on the boot lid.

The car was sold to its first owner on the 16th March 1949. It was registered in Victoria as MY229. The car remained in continuous ownership for nearly six years. On the 1st January 1955 the car was sold to William Love. In his ownership the car was repainted Ivory. On the 1st June 1961 the car changed hands and found its way to South Australia. It was repainted back to its original colour of light blue metallic. The car was then sold on the 1st January 1963 by Para Motors in Adelaide to John Fleming. In Flemings ownership the car was registered in South Australia as HUM611. It was repainted again, this time in the Ford colour of port wine. Fleming traded his Bristol for an Aston Martin DB4 and on 1st March 1969 through a business by the name of Group Air. On the 1st January 1970, the car was sold and it found its way to Western Australia. On the 1st December 1970 the car was sold again, to John Milne, who returned the car back to its original colour.

After a colourful early life where this car travelled across Australia, passing through many different owners and changing colour a number of times, this wonderful Bristol has subsequently remained in continuous ownership for the next 48 years!

This car was acquired by the father of the current owner in 1977. He passed the car down to his son, who is the current owner of the car, in 1978. The car was used sparingly until 1987 at which time it was parked with the intention to one day restore it to its former glory.

This Bristol 400 remained in storage for the next 27 years and in 2014 it was then sent to O&S Sports Car Restoration and Mechanical Repairs in Cromer, NSW. They completely stripped the car and started the restoration. In August 2015 the owner decided to send his partially restored car to Bristol specialist Sebastian Gross in Kendall on the mid north coast in NSW. The restoration was a major undertaking and finally in 2019 the car was back on the road. There are detailed invoices and a photographic record of the restoration on file, which confirm the extent of the work completed.

Whilst the owner of the car lived in Perth, he chose to keep the car in NSW. He came across to the east coast regularly and when possible got to use and enjoy his Bristol. He was a regular attendee at Bristol Club events and most notably took the car to Noosa for a national rally organised by the Bristol Owners Club of Australia from the 28th of April 2019 until the 5th of May 2019. The car was very well received and it won the trophy for the Best Restoration against some stiff competition.

The current owner is moving overseas and has reluctantly decided that it is time for his beloved Bristol 400 to pass on to its next custodian. He had to have one last hurrah with the car and took a week to drive it from Kendall, NSW up to Noosa, QLD, finally dropping it off at our private showroom in Brisbane.

As they say . . . a picture is worth a thousand words and the photos of this car do exactly that! This is a very well presented car. The light blue metallic colour really suits the car and it accentuates the art deco style flowing lines which give it a cohesive, almost sculpted appearance. Generally the paint is still in very good condition. It has retained a strong depth of colour with a high gloss finish. Upon closer inspection there are a few minor imperfections consistent with a car which has been used and enjoyed. The most noticeable defect is some orange peel visible on the left rear quarter panel. The external trim, with its subtle chrome accents around the grille, window surrounds and bumpers provide just enough contrast without overwhelming the cars clean lines. It is all in very good condition and presents with nice lustre. The badges are also similarly well presented. The glass is all in a good condition with no scratches, chips or cracks evident.

The unique steel wheels are clean with no kerb rash evident. They are shod with Michelin X tyres, size 5.50R16. These tyres are date stamped 2917 (week 29, 2017) and are still in a good condition. The hubcaps with the Bristol logo are a real feature and in a good condition.

Opening the large rear hinged suicide doors reveals a wonderfully inviting interior. The beige and brown upholstery combination is particularly appealing, providing a warm and sophisticated contrast to the light blue paintwork. The overall effect is both harmonious and elegantly understated. The seats are surprisingly comfortable and provide ample support. The leather is in a very good condition with no damage or any sign of wear present. The rear seats have probably never been used.

Once youve settled in behind the large steering wheel, your attention naturally turns to the dashboard. As part of the cars restoration, a new dashboard was crafted from African cedar and it still presents beautifully today, appearing as fresh as the day it was installed. The instruments are crisp and clear, with everything functioning as it should on our recent test drive. Even the radio is operational. The roll down blinds are a sophisticated touch and were particularly fond of the charming semaphore indicators, which are in perfect working order.

The bonnet on a Bristol 400 is split down the centreline and opens from both sides, allowing access to the engine bay from either side of the car. This design not only reflects the craftsmanship of the era but also helps maintain the smooth, flowing lines of the body when closed, preserving the cars elegant, aerodynamic profile. Under the bonnet the engine bay is neat and tidy and this is also where you will find the toolkit and a foot pump. The same can be said for the boot, where everything is clean and well presented. The jack is mounted on the bulkhead at the rear of the boot. Importantly, the Enots 'one shot' lubrication system is present and in working order.

This is a very well sorted car and therefore it is no surprise it also starts easily, even from cold. Once the 2.0 litre six cylinder engine fires, it quickly settles into a smooth, steady idle. With these older cars it is best to allow the engine a little bit of time to warm up. It doesnt take long before we are able to select first gear and are out on the open road. The Bristol 400 is not a sports car, rather it is a gentlemans express with a sporting edge and it needs to be driven that way. Driving the Bristol 400 is about elegance and presence, not outright speed. It encourages a relaxed, attentive style of driving where you savour the engineering, the handcrafted details and the smooth ride. Its the kind of car that turns heads wherever it goes and makes every journey feel like a special occasion. Quite incredible for a car built almost 80 years ago!

Once on the road, the car moves with composure, rewarding gentle throttle inputs rather than aggressive acceleration. The engine sounds fabulous with rorty exhaust note. The gear changes are smooth and precise both up and down the box. The car handles well. It feels composed and predictable around corners, with a steering thats accurate but not overly heavy, making it comfortable for longer drives without feeling disconnected from the road. The brakes are effective, pulling the car up quickly and in a straight line when needed. They require a firm, confident touch, as is typical of cars from this period, but respond reliably.

As mentioned earlier in this write up, the current owner is moving overseas and has decided its time for someone else to enjoy his beloved Bristol 400. This is a very well sorted car which you can just enjoy the way it is. We would repair the paint blemishes on the left rear guard, which would return this car to near concours condition.

It is understood that almost 500 Bristol 400s were built between 1947 and 1950. According to records from the Bristol Owners Club of Australia, there were originally 94 Bristol 400s exported to Australia when the model was new. It is thought that perhaps as many as 50 of those cars still exist today, however, it would be hard to find a better example than this car.

Accompanying the car is a good history file with receipts and photos of all the work completed during the restoration. There is also a spare wheel, tool kit, jack and a foot pump.

Highlights:

Australian delivered, factory RHD example.
Known ownership from new.
Restored by marque experts.
Presented in its original and stunning colour combination.
Beautifully presented car that is just a delight to drive.

Price $ 99,950.



Background

The Bristol Car Company has a rich and fascinating history. Its origins date back to the Bristol Aeroplane Company (formerly The British and Colonial Aeroplane Company) that was founded in February 1910 by Sir George White, chairman of the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Company, along with his son Stanley and his brother Samuel, to commercially exploit the fast-growing aviation sector. The Bristol Aeroplane Company developed into a British industrial powerhouse and they built some of the worlds most technologically advanced aeroplanes. Some of the most well-known and successful aircraft built by Bristol were the Bristol F2 Fighter (used during World War I), the Bristol Bulldog and the Bristol Beaufighter (used during World War II).

Following the First World War the British aircraft industry suffered a dramatic downturn and subsequently significant financial challenges. In an endeavour to keep its workforce employed the Bristol Aeroplane Company undertook the manufacture of a light car, the single seat Bristol Monocar which was powered by a motorcycle engine, the construction of car bodies for Armstrong Siddeley and bus bodies for their sister company, Bristol Tramways. The company survived, but times were tough.

Aircraft manufacturing ramped up again with the outbreak of the Second World War, however, management had learned that they must plan for the future. It is understood that discussions started as early as 1941 to establish a post war car manufacturing division. Bristol began working with AFN Ltd, makers of Frazer Nash cars and British importer of BMWs before the war, on plans for a joint venture in automotive manufacturing. What ultimately eventuated was that the Bristol Aeroplane Company took over AFN Ltd and established its car manufacturing division, Bristol Cars. A purpose built factory was constructed at Filton Aerodrome, near Bristol.

The first Bristol was designated the 400 and not surprisingly given the Frazer Nash and BMW connection it was based on a BMW 326 chassis with BMW 327 styling. The engine, whilst built by Bristol, was also based on a BMW 327. The first prototypes were built in late 1946, however, the car was formally introduced at the 1947 Geneva Motor Show.

The car was a great success for Bristol and almost 500 examples were built through until 1950. This included 17 Drophead Coupes with coachwork by Pininfarina.

In 1949 Bristol introduced successor to the 400, the 401, which was designed and bodied by Touring of Milan in Italy. The new model was aerodynamically sleeker and featured superleggera construction with an aluminium body over a steel frame.

As a result the car weighed significantly less and its performance was greatly enhanced. Bristol was gaining a reputation for building technologically advanced motor cars that were luxurious, very reliable and offered genuinely exciting performance on the road. Their cars were not cheap and as a result they remained somewhat exclusive. Buyers of new Bristols back in the day were typically wealthy businessman who wanted a car to stand out in a crowd. They also wanted a car they could drive and enjoy and many Bristols were used for hill climbs and weekend motor racing.

Bristol developed the 450 specifically for motor racing and it made its debut at the 1953 Le Mans 24 hour race. Two cars were entered in the race, however, they both retired with engine failures after about 10 hours. Bristol returned to Le Mans in 1954 and entered three cars, with uprated engines and improved aerodynamic bodywork. In contrast with the previous year all three cars finished the race, coming home in first, second and third place in their class and seventh, eighth and ninth overall. Their performance also earned Bristol the team prize. Bristol returned to Le Mans again in 1955 and again performed exceptionally well achieving the same results as in 1954. The race became famous for the wrong reason when a major accident resulted in debris flying into the crowd killing 83 people and injuring many more. Following this race a number of manufacturers, including Bristol, retired from motor racing indefinitely.

Subsequent road cars included the 403 (1953-1955, 287 cars built), which was a further development of its predecessors, the 404 (1953-1958, 52 cars built), the 405 (1953-1958, 308 cars built and the 406 (1958-1961, 174 cars built).

Bristol Cars was sold after its parent company joined with other British aircraft companies in 1960 to create the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC), which later became part of British Aerospace.