1948 Bristol 400

Chassis Number: 460-180

Registration number: JYM11 (By separate Negotiation.)

Built in 1948, these Bristol cars were way ahead of their time being produced by a company more used to making aircraft then cars. Thus we find all kinds of aviation related details in the design & construction of the car, not least in the body work which is very streamlined with an extremly low drag co-efficient.

The car is powered by the Bristol version of BMW's evergreen straight six 2 litre engine with triple carbs fitted. This results in excellent performance with 80MPH cruising available on the Motorway at all times delivered in an uncannily smooth manner.

A recent full bodywork refurbishment has just beeen carried out with all corrosion & rust being fully addressed & removed. The car was then painted to a very high standard in Aston Martin metallic green; a colour that suits the car admirably.

To the brand new interior is fresh beige hide to all seating surfaces piped in dark Brown including the capacious door pockets. New headling & carpets have aslo been installed. The wooden dash has been removed & refinished. All instrumentation is period & in good working order. A full tool kit is in its appointed place in a box in the engine bay. To the rear is a very capacious boot containing a spare wheel & ample space for large amounts of luggage.

Driving round the M25 in stop start traffic on the hottest day of the year, the water & oil temperatures remained between 60 & 70 Degrees. Under load oil pressure was a steady 65lbs indicting the excellent health of the smooth six cylinder motor.

The car has for over a decade been the property of a well known Morgan dealers family & has thus been propertly looked after & fettled as required to a far higher standard then one might expect from less august company. You simply have to drive it to experience how good the taut handling is & how well the motor pulls though the lovely synchromesh gear box. It feels more like 1970 then 1948.

Mille Miglia eligible, this car would make a stylish fast & comfortable entrant to the famed event. The condition is such that I have to say I have not seen nor driven a better one & I have experienced a number of these over the years. It is done to show standards yet remains a very versatile useable car.