1949 bristol 400 4 sp manual 2d coupe

We are very pleased to offer for sale this wonderful 1949 Bristol 400. It is a matching numbers car in its very attractive and original ‘maroon’ body colour. Documents confirm it was despatched on the 1st February 1950 to Commonwealth Motors Ltd in Melbourne. Charmingly it also confirms that two extra sun visors were fitted to the car as an option along with a ‘wireless’ which are just two of a number of beautiful design features apparent throughout this lovely example.

After WW2 The Bristol Aeroplane Company obtained the rights to BMW's automotive designs as part of the war reparations. The Bristol 400 was the first Bristol and effectively a fusion of three pre-war BMWs. The chassis derived from that of the 326; the advanced 2.0-litre six-cylinder engine from the 328 sports cars; and an aerodynamic bodyshell similar to that of the 327 coupé.
However, Bristol did more than simply copy the work of BMW; the application of aviation industry standards to its manufacture resulted in a car more refined and considerably better constructed than the BMW. (difficult to imagine in today’s manufacturing landscape). The most significant changes made by Bristol's designers were metallurgical, their utilisation of the highest quality materials contributing to increased engine life. A maximum output of 80bhp at 4,200rpm was claimed, which was good enough for a top speed of around 95mph which was a heady turn of pace at the time, especially as this was a car able to carry 4 passengers with a decent boot space too.


The 400's body benefited from Bristol’s aircraft manufacturing skills and was constructed of steel panels on a wood frame, with the doors, bonnet and boot-lid skinned in aluminium to reduce weight. The craftsmanship was outstanding. Its aerodynamic shape made it slippery and helped it attain the speeds it did. Beneath the skin the chassis boasted independent front suspension by single upper wishbones and lower transverse leaf spring, while torsion bars located within the chassis members controlled the live rear axle. Contrasting with the exterior's modern appearance, the traditional wood-embellished interior harked back to an earlier age and exuded elegance, style and wonderful build quality. In total, 474 Bristol 400s were made between 1947 and 1950 making them rare cars, particularly here in Australia.

Our Bristol 400 – Chassis 400/1/451
Extensive documents that come with the car suggest it was first used as a demonstrator by Claridge Motors of Unley, Adelaide and in December 1951 the car was sold to its first owner in South Australia.
During the 1950’s the car was painted black but returned to its correct Maroon colour in the 1970’s.
The history files show a full history of owners over the years with detailed notes on ownership.
More recently in 1988 the history files point to the car being in Bowral in NSW July an in August 1993 the car was purchased by a Mr Lino Bertollo from Castle Hill.
In 2001 the car was sold to Mr Heinz Haupt from Corawa, NSW. He later moved to Victoria and subsequently registered the car there. In his ownership the car was retrimmed in approximately 2002.
The car subsequently changed owners a few times and the car was well known in the Bristol community. The current owner has had the car for just over a year and due to a change in personal circumstances has with much reluctance had to let the car pass to a new owner.

A replacement cylinder head has been fitted and a previous owner managed to purchase the original cylinder head at the 2016 Motorclassica auction and it remains with the car.
The body and paint on this Bristol are just stunning and suits the car perfectly. Whilst it is not a fresh repaint the colour is very rich, and the paint shows only minor age-related imperfections here and there. For example, there are some stone chips at the front which have been neatly touched up and small scuff to the rear lower guard and a couple of minor splits. However, this does not detract from to the overall presentation of this car which is really very special, and the shape and numerous design details make this very captivating to the eye.
The brightwork is in exceptional order and contrasts perfectly with the darker colour Maroon. All the glass is in perfect order without any chips or cracks. The rear window opening mechanism is an attractive (and practical) feature and works perfectly.

Once inside the visual treat continues. The seating and leather work is just wonderful and extremely comfortable too. You are greeted with a dashboard that is pin sharp with the gauges presenting as new yet reflecting the design language of the 1940’s. The dash incorporates a period correct wireless of the type 4014VD. The serial number tag states “Made in England specially for The Gramophone Co Ltd (Australian Branch) Sydney, NSW”.

The timber is stunning throughout the interior particularly the window framing. There are numerous internal features that help make up the cars rich character. The pull-out ash trays in each door are a work of art in themselves and the pull-down blinds to the front and rear are quite charming. The attention to detail coupled with the quality of craftsmanship is a reminder of how cars were once built.
Under the bonnet you will find the legendary 2 litre straight 6 engine which presents very well in a clean and tidy engine bay. The original and complete toolkit is present as is a foot pump.
The boot is remarkably large, and you will find the jack, the wheel brace, a bleeder drain tube for the hydraulic brakes, a set of original tyre levers and a crank handle. Having such a complete set of these items is rare and underlines the quality of this example.

Start the car and you are greeted with a very throaty engine note – echoing a far more modern straight six engine. Out on the open road this car really is a marvel and reflects the quality and performance of the engineering from BMW and Bristol. At the time it must have put many other competitors in the shade. The cars performance is quite extraordinary, and we were very taken with how well it drove. It cruises comfortably with modern traffic and brakes and steers perfectly well too. You would not associate this driving experience with a car from the 1940’s (or 50’s). The engine has a surprising amount of torque and is smooth too and you can see why it has the direct lineage to much later BMW engines. Overall, the whole car feels very solid and capable of driving some distances in comfort. A remarkable car indeed.

The Bristol 400 is a rare car, and few are available here is Australia. This is a particularly attractive example being ‘matching numbers’ in its stunning and original colour, delivered locally in RHD and with an extensive supporting history including owners who have clearly lavished on it much attention and investment.
Accompanying the car is the original cylinder head, toolkit, jack, an original spare wheel, an original Bristol 2 – Litre Type 400 instruction manual, an original spares handbook and a copy of a workshop manual for a type 85a engine and gearbox.

The car has been recently serviced and is ready for its next owner to continue the journey of owning a quintessential British Sports Saloon. Given its looks, quality, performance and rarity we feel these cars represent somewhat of a bargain compared with other cars of the era. What a car!