Make: Arnolt-Bristol
Model: Deluxe
Color: Red
Interior Color: Black
This 1958 Arnolt-Bristol Deluxe Roadster by Bertone carries a remarkable provenance, having once been owned by U.S. Air Force General Curtis LeMay. LeMay was a prominent military leader during World War II and the Cold War, serving as Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force from 1961 to 1965. Known as Bombs Away LeMay, he was an avid automotive enthusiast whose passion for cars influenced postwar American motorsports.
In the early 1950s, LeMay helped sustain street racing by opening SAC air bases for racing use, providing a safe alternative during a period of decline. He was awarded the SCCA Woolf Barnato Award in 1954 and was inducted into the SCCA Hall of Fame in 2007.
The Arnolt-Bristol was discovered by Chicago-based importer S. H. Wacky Arnolt, who saw demand for cars with Bertone-designed bodies on Bristol platforms. Bristol, having expanded into high-performance grand touring cars, provided the perfect chassis for Arnolt’s vision. The car features Bristol’s box-section chassis, a 130 bhp BS1 MkII engine with hemispherical combustion chambers, transverse-leaf front suspension, and a live rear axle, all wrapped in sleek Bertone bodywork designed by Franco Scaglione.
Weighing just 1,800 pounds, this car could reach 60 mph in 8.7 seconds with a top speed around 110 mph. Its balanced weight distribution made it capable on both road and track. The model was successful in SCCA Modified Championship racing from 1954 to 1956 and competed at the 12 Hours of Sebring. Over seven years, 142 cars were built.
This Arnolt Bristol Deluxe offers a unique opportunity to own a piece of automotive history. It is an excellent restoration candidate, retaining many original parts and featuring its original matching numbers Bristol engine. It is a rare and special model, famous in its day in SCCA competition.
Body designed by Franco Scaglione of Bertone. One of only 142 Arnolt-Bristols built from 1954 through 1959.
Price: $129,500
