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Lot Essay
Stanley Harold "Wacky" Arnolt was a Midwestern industrialist best-known for conceiving the Arnolt-Bristol sports car in the early 1950's. He made his fortune selling engines and other machinery to the U.S. military during World War II. After the war, Arnolt, enamored of English sports cars such as MGs and cars by the Bristol Aeroplane Co., set up a company in Chicago to distribute them in North America.
At an auto show in Turin in 1952, Arnolt ordered 100 coupes designed by Nuccio Bertone and eventually mounted each on a Bristol 404 chassis with engines originally designed for BMW. The result was the Arnolt-Bristol sports car, which dominated the two-litre racing class for several years. In 1957, a crash at Sebring, Florida auto race killed an Arnolt team member, dampening Arnolt's enthusiasm for racing. The Arnolt-Bristol coupe was ultimately discontinued in 1960.
The present watch, which was made to order specifically for S.H. Arnolt, was designed in its massive size so that he could wear the watch on the outside of his jacket and easily time his race cars.
At an auto show in Turin in 1952, Arnolt ordered 100 coupes designed by Nuccio Bertone and eventually mounted each on a Bristol 404 chassis with engines originally designed for BMW. The result was the Arnolt-Bristol sports car, which dominated the two-litre racing class for several years. In 1957, a crash at Sebring, Florida auto race killed an Arnolt team member, dampening Arnolt's enthusiasm for racing. The Arnolt-Bristol coupe was ultimately discontinued in 1960.
The present watch, which was made to order specifically for S.H. Arnolt, was designed in its massive size so that he could wear the watch on the outside of his jacket and easily time his race cars.