Help! 1953 Bristol! What model Bristol is this?

[CCA_EWLOE]

Hello! After some advice, I need to determine what model Bristol this vehicle is. I know it is a 1953, 2 litre model. Thank you in advance!

[geo]

Any clues such as photographs of the car, engine etc? What is the chassis and engine No. and any UK registration plate?

[Nick Challacombe]

I see no photographs , although the posting says 3 may have been attached.

[Nick Challacombe]

It looks like a 401 as it has no 403 on the sides of the bonnet openings.
Photos appeared thank you.

[CCA_EWLOE]

Thank you for your swift response, a great help!

[HughMiller]

The bonnet & boot badges are red, which suggests a 403 (401 badges, and most other Bristol models, have an amber background), although 403s usually *do* have '403' on the bonnet sides and boot. The hubcap badges should match. The grille is silver (401s were black) - though that's easily changed. I painted my 403 grill black because I thought it looked better (actually, I also took the '403' and 'GB' badges off at one stage, when I was on a minimalist kick).
If it's definitely 1953, I think that's too late for a 401, too.
If you can go and look at it, a simple discriminator is the front suspension. The 403 has a roll bar, the 401 doesn't. The 403 should also have an engine number that starts with 100, rather than 85.
Hugh Miller

[Geoff Kingston]

Well spotted Hugh, no signs of the holes for the 403 script on the bonnet and boot though , have checked the number on the BOC chassis list for the 401 and the 403 and it's not showing up on either though there are a small number of 401's that appear to have been registered in 1953.
Makes this all the more interesting, a lost Bristol found.

[DaleC]

Can't tell precisely from your photos. My gut feeling is 401. Can't quite see the outer headlamps, or any 403 flank badges.

[Michael Oram]

This appears to be a 401/3, the last 401 produced which had anti roll bar at the front, PF770 headlights and the grille was normally the colour of the body.
This could have been changed as can the badges?
The registration is Berkshire Feb 1953, probably Reading and can be checked thro. this link

Berkshire car registration letter code RX

We have the same model 401 registered MXF 682, Feb 1952 in London.

[penman]

Would the 403 badges be stuck on or have locating pins through holes in the bonnet?
If the latter then there should be evidence of holes having been filled in or it has had an earller bonnet fitted if it is a 403

[Geoff Kingston]

The 403 badges are located by two pins so there woud be two sets of holes for them on the bonnet and one on the boot lid which also carried the 403 badge.
The badges in the photograph look in good condition so it may simply be a case of a later addition, I remember in the mid 80's there was a period where you could still get red badges but the earlier ones were in short supply.
I also checked a pair of grills I took off a late 401 a few years ago and they were silver like the 403's but again this could have been done when the car was restored. My 403 is fitted with the earlier style of badges front,back and on hubcaps but the later style of coachwork badge.

[Geoff Dowdle]

It's not that difficult to open the bonnet and look at the chassis number on the LH chassis rail and ID plate on the firewall, which gives all the information needed.
Geoff

[peterg]

Out of interest my 403 grills were originally painted red and then over painted silver, but I don't know whether it was done by Bristol or when it was later painted silver.

[geo]

Sad news indeed. A genuinely helpful and entertaining character who had much knowledge and combined this with a very practical attitude to keeping one's Bristol on the road.

George