401/403 restoration project wanted.

[Calibrator]

Interested to hear from anyone who might have, or might know of a Bristol 401 or Bristol 403 for sale. I'm specifically looking for a car without engine or gearbox. I'd be most grateful for any help or leads.

Jim.

0151 208 5026
07925 192491
bac405@gmail.com

[Ronald G. Stephenson]

Now, that is a real puzzler, but perhaps the buyer is planning a 'hybird' project with one of the most rare pieces of automotive history to be found. Bristols, like Aston Martins are rare and unique examples, and most of us would just like to own one for the sake of owning one. Why anyone would want to drastically alter one is a mystery. Now, if they are sitting on an engine and transmission for that vintage Bristol, I could understand the desire to find a suitable car. Some of the older cars have been robbed (raped) or their drivetrains for use in specials and Arnolt Bristols, even AC cars.

[Calibrator]

The reason I'm looking for an engineless and gearbox less car is quite simple really. The cost of complete cars.

I did own a lovely Bristol 401, KDF749. Bought for £8000.00, sold for £11,000.00. Thought I'd done well. Similar cars now upwards of £30,000.00. If I was a richer man than I am, I'd have another 401/403 in good fettle. But I'm not.

There are folks out there who can afford to buy a derelict car and match them with a Bristol engine and gearbox. But if they can afford to do that, I'd imagine that they would buy a sorted car in the first place.

The very real sadness is that time after time, owners having what I consider to be almost art, in the Aerodyne's, have thought it right to rip the drive trains out to put into other cars. It is they that have vandalised the cars, not the likes of me trying to keep at least a remnant on the road.

[Ronald G. Stephenson]

I am in the same situation, and should a car come up without drivetrain, I would be tempted to gather the right stuff first, but would consider the alternative route, always hoping to find the right engine/trans to re-install. Many great and reliable alternatives. What springs to mind is the
Datsun straight sixes and stick or automatic boxes. You are right in your desire to put one back on the road, and I would do the same thing. The toughest part is finding that 'project', but I am sure they are out there. Thus far, I have not found a candidate, and I have been searching for years. I do hope some individual reading this has just the car.

[Calibrator]

I'd guess being in the United States narrows your choices somewhat. I've been driven in a 401 or 403, don't remember which, that had a Datsun 260Z engine in it. It just flew. Of course nothing, absolutely nothing compares to a Bristol Six on song. I remember in my 401, driving through the Mersey tunnel as I often did, windows down, just using the gearbox. I'll never forget that sound. But lovely as it was, I was always aware that if I broke the engine, I was unlikely to be able to afford a rebuild.

[Ronald G. Stephenson]

We must be kindred spirits in that we had the Datsun engine swap idea. I am looking for the right car myself, and hope to find one. I do have a lead on a later car at what most would consider a fair price, but it is way out of my reach. The Bristol is one of the only cars that I have wanted to own that has escaped me at this point. I have had Jags and Astons and many other sports cars in the past. I am attracted to the Bristols with the Chrysler drivetrains, I guess starting with the 408. Those engines and transmissions are easy to find and cheap to rebuild. Good luck on your search. All the best.

[GREG]

There has been a 408 for sale for some time now in the USA

[Ronald G. Stephenson]

I think the one you cited is the one I know of, and it has been totally restored to about a $35,000 level by a man that ran a restoration shop of years. He passed away and the widow is trying to sell it.

[Geoff Dowdle]

Ronald ,
That sounds very cheap for a restored 408 , you could spend that repairing the rust and corrosion of a project car .
What are you waiting for ???
Is it a restored car at $5000
Good Luck
Geoff

[Ronald G. Stephenson]

These cars never were valuable, and they were never what you could call Rolls-Bentley quality. Like other specialist makes, they have nearly gone out of business since their inception. Same for the Aston Martins. I owned three of them, and could not wait to palm them off to some unsuspecting soul. The idea that E-types would rise to ridiculous numbers is another example of more money than sense. Yes, Geoff, I have had six of them. Right now, restoration is running over $100,000 here, so what is the point? I admit to liking old, interesting cars, and have a collection now that some would consider valuable, but I do not, and have watched the market for years, both on American and foreign makes. These things are not investments, and to think that is pure folly.

[Geoff Dowdle]

Ronald ,
Have you ever owned a Bristol ?
Have you ever been in or driven one ?
Except for maybe RR & Bentley , Bristols have always been a exclusive hand made car . With a Chrysler 383 in my 411 S1 it would pull to 6000 rpm in top and then just idle along in top in city traffic , easy to maintain as a every day driver , which I did for eight years
My brother had a DBS V8 which I drove on a 400 mile trip , I was glad to get out of it & back into the 411.

A volume production car like a E type or even Austin Healey's making over $100 is ridiculous but it is a combination of supply & demand and restoration cost , which as you say is over $100k .

I believe any one buying a classic car for an investment is fool hardy, they are usually people that can not do the restorations themselves and see others making money on a rising market , but don't consider the hundreds of hours put into a restoration/rebuild.

I go back to my earlier statement , if that fully restored 408 is available under $40k it is cheap and you should buy it , use it and come back to this Forum after a few years with some first hand experience not just general talk about other cars you have owned or want to own.

Geoff

[Ronald G. Stephenson]

Bristol has an interesting history, dating back to the close of World War 2, and I know the whole story about how they started life as BMW's. The Bristol got my attention years ago when I discovered that they had switched to Chrysler power to replace an old straight six, two litre engine. Since then, I have come across a few here in the states. Like most all 'rare' cars that were relatively unknown here, they went for peanuts. Most examples I found were in horrible shape and would require huge expense to bring them up to roadworthiness. So, I still hope to own one, especially a V-8 car. Yes, I have seen them up close, and they are the typical hand-made item in that they are as unfinished as the Astons. I could not believe how much old technology, if you want to call it that, went into these cars. If you try to compare them to the earlier Chryslers, Packards and Cadillacs of the same period, it is easy to see the differences. When and if I find one, I will update it as much as it believe it needs. I like the rarity, and it probably the only reason I am still chasing one.

[Kevin H]

Originally Posted by Ronald G. Stephenson

Bristol has an interesting history, dating back to the close of World War 2, and I know the whole story about how they started life as BMW's, blah blah blah ...

Ronald, I've had enough of your condescending twaddle.

[peter dowdle]

very well said kevin

[peter dowdle]

lets hope he never gets one

cant imagine what he might do to it

[T2bones]

I have become aware of a maroon 401 (1951/2) on the West Coast of the USA. It is a very serviceable running car with good patina. Does anyone know this car?
It does have the original engine, with chromed intake manifold and air cleaner......

[Bristling]

Hi Guys,

I'm a long time classic car buff, but new to British Iron. I have always liked the advanced aerodynamics of these cars, but there is not much for sale in Australia. That said there is one that has been totally restored only 20mins away in Brisbane Australia, but it is in the heavens at GBP 47k. With two young kids, a very patient wife, and nearing the end of several years of University we don't throw money around, but if you do hear of something down under or up over that is serviceable then I'm keen as mustard. God knows I need something to take my mind off Law books.

I wonder about the BRG 401 in LA on EBay - not a lot of real info re rust in the chassis and general condition so it depends what sort of money at the end. Any thoughts?

Does anyone have the email address for Brian May in the UK - not the fellow from Queen, but the guy that is very Bristol focused I'd so please let me know at damoco@tpg.com.au.

All the best
Dan - aka Bristing