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Details
1948 BRISTOL 401 BERLINETTA TOURING « SUPERLEGGERA » PROTOTYPE
Chassis No. 401 206
Engine No. 400 85B 1499
Red with tan leather seats and trim.
Engine: 2-litre six cylinder-in-line, 1971cc with inclined push-rod-operated valves in hemispherical combustion chambers, developing 85bhp at 4,500 rpm; Gearbox: four-speed synchromesh, single dry-plate clutch; Suspension: independent with transverse leaf springs and hydraulic shock absorbers in the front, longitudinal torsion bars to the rear. Brakes: hydraulic drums; Right hand drive
Chassis No. 401 206 is the first of three Touring bodied Bristols and the only one known to survive. It is a result of the collaboration between the Bristol Aeroplane Co. and Carrozzeria Touring of Milan.
Constructed and designed in Italy, the bodies benefitted from the considerable experience for which the Italian coach building company was renowned. The engine was built by Bristol to an original BMW design, the licence for this having been obtained in the form of compensation for war damage.
This particular car was built by Touring for the Bristol factory as a prototype and was expected to compete in the 1948 Mille Miglia but was unfortunately not finished in time. The car was however displayed on the Touring stand at the Geneva Motorshow of 1949.
Bristol had invested a great deal of time and money in this project, matching Touring's light weight "Superleggera" concept with Bristol's own experience in aerodynamics. Unfortunately the original idea of commissioning Touring to build 200 cars fell through in the end.
The above car remained with Touring until being sold in Switzerland, after which it appears to have had one subsequent owner, until being discovered in 1987 by its present vendor in original and complete condition.
The car was completely restored to original specification and to a very high standard from 1991 to 1994. In 1997 chassis No. 401 206 was invited to the famous "Concours d'Elegance" at Villa d'Este. At that point a film was made of the car with its creator, Sr. Carlo Felice Bianchi Anderloni, 50 years after the car was built. The same year Le Mans legend racing driver, Derek Bell drove the car on the well-known Ennstal Classic Rally in Austria.
This car presents an exceptional opportunity and potential for the purchaser to acquire an important and now unique piece of both Bristol and Touring history, with the added appeal of the chassis No. 401 206 being eligible for the retrospective Mille Miglia. The vehicle comes with a comprehensive restoration file as well as photographs of its participation at the above mentioned events.
At present EU registered with duties paid, it would require registration with the DVLA in Swansea for road use in the United Kingdom.
Chassis No. 401 206
Engine No. 400 85B 1499
Red with tan leather seats and trim.
Engine: 2-litre six cylinder-in-line, 1971cc with inclined push-rod-operated valves in hemispherical combustion chambers, developing 85bhp at 4,500 rpm; Gearbox: four-speed synchromesh, single dry-plate clutch; Suspension: independent with transverse leaf springs and hydraulic shock absorbers in the front, longitudinal torsion bars to the rear. Brakes: hydraulic drums; Right hand drive
Chassis No. 401 206 is the first of three Touring bodied Bristols and the only one known to survive. It is a result of the collaboration between the Bristol Aeroplane Co. and Carrozzeria Touring of Milan.
Constructed and designed in Italy, the bodies benefitted from the considerable experience for which the Italian coach building company was renowned. The engine was built by Bristol to an original BMW design, the licence for this having been obtained in the form of compensation for war damage.
This particular car was built by Touring for the Bristol factory as a prototype and was expected to compete in the 1948 Mille Miglia but was unfortunately not finished in time. The car was however displayed on the Touring stand at the Geneva Motorshow of 1949.
Bristol had invested a great deal of time and money in this project, matching Touring's light weight "Superleggera" concept with Bristol's own experience in aerodynamics. Unfortunately the original idea of commissioning Touring to build 200 cars fell through in the end.
The above car remained with Touring until being sold in Switzerland, after which it appears to have had one subsequent owner, until being discovered in 1987 by its present vendor in original and complete condition.
The car was completely restored to original specification and to a very high standard from 1991 to 1994. In 1997 chassis No. 401 206 was invited to the famous "Concours d'Elegance" at Villa d'Este. At that point a film was made of the car with its creator, Sr. Carlo Felice Bianchi Anderloni, 50 years after the car was built. The same year Le Mans legend racing driver, Derek Bell drove the car on the well-known Ennstal Classic Rally in Austria.
This car presents an exceptional opportunity and potential for the purchaser to acquire an important and now unique piece of both Bristol and Touring history, with the added appeal of the chassis No. 401 206 being eligible for the retrospective Mille Miglia. The vehicle comes with a comprehensive restoration file as well as photographs of its participation at the above mentioned events.
At present EU registered with duties paid, it would require registration with the DVLA in Swansea for road use in the United Kingdom.
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.