Project Profile – 1948 Bristol 400 - Car & Classic Magazine (2024)

Last week we took a look at Bristol cars and what could have been, had the company not fallen. It was a proud company, with a rich heritage in both trains and trams and also, more notably, the aviation industry. In fact, Bristol technology was the driving force behind Britain’s WW1 efforts, as well as WW2. But with the two wars over and peacetime regained, what was the company to do? There was no need for its planes, at least not on the same scale as during wartime. It needed to diversify, so in 1948 the British Bristol Aeroplane Company as it was then known, created a car division, and with it, they gave the world the car you’re looking at here. This is the Bristol 400.

What is it?

The Bristol 400 a classy, elegant sports sedan aimed at the affluent and the fashion conscious. The long bonnet, the flowing wings, the sweeping tail. It was a beautiful machine. Of course, there is no escaping the fact it had a passing resemblance to BMW’s offerings of the time, especially when it came to that distinctive grill, but given the shared mechanicals, it’s hardly surprising. And besides, while the BMWs were somewhat squat, the 400 was long and flowing.

It utilised the frame of the BMW 326, as the company didn’t have the funds to develop its own frame. Instead, Bristol wanted to spend money on the body, fit and finish. This is further evidenced when you look under that long bonnet and find a BMW 328 straight-six engine.

The Bristol 400 was an impressive machine. A great deal of care and attention was put into the build of the car, while the mechanicals ensured it was a joy to drive as well as being spritely – it produced some 80 horsepower and could hit, if the conditions allowed, 92mph. That was phenomenal for the time, and it served to cement Bristol as being a car-maker to watch, and watch we did. And when, in 1950, the somewhat experimental 400 was superseded by the 401, we clambered to buy one.

Why is it a project?

It needs to be finished, in a nutshell. This is a car that has gone some way through a restoration, but for reasons unknown, it never reached completion, and that’s something of a shame. But there is a positive to take from it, and that’s the fact you’re buying a car that should be solid, not something that’s been sat in a damp garage for decades. It looks to be reasonably complete, too, which is good given the rarity of the car. All it needs is for you to tend to matters like trim and paint, via which you’ll be in the enviable position of being able to transform it. This is a classic you can make your own, but without having to endure any of the painful welding or repair work you’d normally expect to find on this car.

What’s been done already?

This particular 400 has, as we touched on above, already been through an extensive restoration. The vendor states that the current owner has had this 400 for some 21 years and put it in for restoration back in 1993. It was between 1993 and 1997 that the extensive work was carried out, including an engine rebuild, bodywork restoration and also work to the chassis. Apparently, this work came to the handsome sum of £48,000. That’s a lot now, let alone back in the late-1990s.

Of course, these words only carry value if there is proof, which happily there is. The vendor explains that there are plenty of documents and photographs to show the car as it was, and during the work. Furthermore, to satisfy any concerns, the car has apparently been stored in a dry, well-ventilated facility since its restoration came to a halt, meaning it hasn’t deteriorated once more.

Five things you should look for:

1) Trim

You’re going to want to go through the included parts to find out what trim is present for the car. The Bristol 400 was rare when it was new, so any missing trim is going to be a headache to find.

2) Engine

Be sure to check the paperwork for details of the engine rebuild. It’s all well and good that it has been done, but that was twenty years ago, and a lot has happened since then. Is it complete, does it still turn on a spanner? You want to be sure it’s still in decent condition.

3) Repairs

Buying a car that’s halfway through a restoration is great, but only if that work has been done to a good standard, so don’t take it on face value that it’s all fine. Get around the car, get under it, check the attention to detail of the work. Satisfy yourself it’s been done well.

4) Glass

The good news is that the glass for the Bristol 400 was all flat, so even if some is missing, it shouldn’t be too hard to get some more made up. However, be aware that the rear window was curved Perspex, so if this is damaged or missing it’s going to be a costly repair.

5) Rust

Yes, this Bristol has been stored somewhere ventilated and dry, but let’s not forget that it’s been stored for over two decades. What was done may have only been given a splash or primer, or a bit of grease. As such, the atmosphere could have got at the metal again, so check it thoroughly.

What should you do with it?

At Car & Classic, we want you to be free to do what you wish with your cars, however, we would offer a cautionary reminder that this Bristol 400 is an exceptionally rare car, so to do anything that may detract from that could steal some of the car’s appeal. But again, it’s your choice.

If it were us, we’d have the interior trimmed in the finest grade leather we could lay our hands on, and we’d go for a bright blue exterior paint job to make it stand out. But don’t wince, red was a factory colour – Bristol was a brand for the shy and retiring.