1950 BRISTOL 402 for sale
Price: $275,000
1950 BRISTOL TYPE 402 CONVERTIBLE
SN: 4431 VIN: 402719 ENG: 85C1520
$275,000
(To be sold Unregistered & with Vic RWC)
RESTORED, ELEGANT & OFFERED BY THE ORIGINAL OWNERS SON
Following the successful, BMW based Type 400, the Bristol Aeroplane Companys car division set out to continue development of their new line of luxury touring cars. Styled by Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera of Milan Italy, the 401 and 402 Bristol were released in 1948 and 1949 respectively.
The convertible open touring bodied 402, equipped with a softop top, capable of disappearing out of sight when folded down, was limited to a production run of between 21 and 26 depending on sources, with some suggesting only 13 are still surviving!
Chassis 402-719, the 19th built, was quite a late production example, sold new to Mr. (later Sir) Tom Barr-Smith of South Australia as a tourist delivery, wearing the English registration MHY850, optioned with a close ratio, competition gearbox (developed for Frazer Nash to compete at the Mille Miglia) and higher, 7.5:1 compression.
Believed to have been exhibited at the 1950 Earls Court Motor Show, the 402 found its way to Glen Osmond South Australia, where it was registered 282. Leaving the Barr-Smith family, the Bristol traded hands multiple times, including a period of ownership in the 70s to the early 90s by Bob & Mary Jervies of Wallaroo S.A, in which it was painted, from its original Black to Cordoba Red and used by Mary as here every day car.
Found, and purchased by Tom Barr-Smith (the original owners son) in 2009, as a restoration candidate, from John Frazer of Mitchelton QLD, the Bristol was quickly sent to Holbrook NSW, where the 402 was stripped to bare alloy and the restoration was professionally undertaken.
In 2020 the Bristols head was replaced due to heat cycle annealing causing the alloy head to fail a hardness test. The replacement head was checked, machined and thoroughly rebuilt, with records indicating that in combination with a slightly larger bore than standard (66.5mm) the resultant compression was raised even higher, to 8.06:1!
Exhibited at the 2020 AXA Sydney Harbour Concours dElegance, hosted at Swifts a heritage-listed Victorian castellated Gothic Revival mansion at Darling Point NSW, this exceptional, and highly desirable Bristol is ready to leave the Barr-Smith family for the second time.
Priced without Reg, Talk to us about Reg, Club or Other Plate Options.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE: 2001cc SIX CYLINDER INCLINED OVER HEAD VALVES
FUEL SYSTEM: TRIPLE SOLEX 32BI CARBURETTORS
TRANSMISSION: 4 SPEED, FREE WHEEL 1st, SYNCHRO 2-4
SUSPENSION: INDEPENDENT FRONT, REAR TORSION BARS
BRAKES: 11 HYDRAULIC DRUMS
WHEELS: 16 FACTORY STEEL WHEELS WITH HUB CAPS
SN: 4431 VIN: 402719 ENG: 85C1520
$275,000
(To be sold Unregistered & with Vic RWC)
RESTORED, ELEGANT & OFFERED BY THE ORIGINAL OWNERS SON
Following the successful, BMW based Type 400, the Bristol Aeroplane Companys car division set out to continue development of their new line of luxury touring cars. Styled by Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera of Milan Italy, the 401 and 402 Bristol were released in 1948 and 1949 respectively.
The convertible open touring bodied 402, equipped with a softop top, capable of disappearing out of sight when folded down, was limited to a production run of between 21 and 26 depending on sources, with some suggesting only 13 are still surviving!
Chassis 402-719, the 19th built, was quite a late production example, sold new to Mr. (later Sir) Tom Barr-Smith of South Australia as a tourist delivery, wearing the English registration MHY850, optioned with a close ratio, competition gearbox (developed for Frazer Nash to compete at the Mille Miglia) and higher, 7.5:1 compression.
Believed to have been exhibited at the 1950 Earls Court Motor Show, the 402 found its way to Glen Osmond South Australia, where it was registered 282. Leaving the Barr-Smith family, the Bristol traded hands multiple times, including a period of ownership in the 70s to the early 90s by Bob & Mary Jervies of Wallaroo S.A, in which it was painted, from its original Black to Cordoba Red and used by Mary as here every day car.
Found, and purchased by Tom Barr-Smith (the original owners son) in 2009, as a restoration candidate, from John Frazer of Mitchelton QLD, the Bristol was quickly sent to Holbrook NSW, where the 402 was stripped to bare alloy and the restoration was professionally undertaken.
In 2020 the Bristols head was replaced due to heat cycle annealing causing the alloy head to fail a hardness test. The replacement head was checked, machined and thoroughly rebuilt, with records indicating that in combination with a slightly larger bore than standard (66.5mm) the resultant compression was raised even higher, to 8.06:1!
Exhibited at the 2020 AXA Sydney Harbour Concours dElegance, hosted at Swifts a heritage-listed Victorian castellated Gothic Revival mansion at Darling Point NSW, this exceptional, and highly desirable Bristol is ready to leave the Barr-Smith family for the second time.
Priced without Reg, Talk to us about Reg, Club or Other Plate Options.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE: 2001cc SIX CYLINDER INCLINED OVER HEAD VALVES
FUEL SYSTEM: TRIPLE SOLEX 32BI CARBURETTORS
TRANSMISSION: 4 SPEED, FREE WHEEL 1st, SYNCHRO 2-4
SUSPENSION: INDEPENDENT FRONT, REAR TORSION BARS
BRAKES: 11 HYDRAULIC DRUMS
WHEELS: 16 FACTORY STEEL WHEELS WITH HUB CAPS
| Title | 1950 BRISTOL 402 |
| Make | BRISTOL |
| Price | $275,000 |
| Listing Type | Used |
| Stock Number | SN4431 |
| Refcode | TA1285061 |
| Body Type | Roadster |
| No. of Doors | 2 |
| No. of Cylinders | 6cyl |
| Capacity - cc | 2001 |
| Fuel Type | Premium Unleaded |
| Transmission | Manual |
| No. of Gears | 4 |
| Drive Type | RWD |
| Odometer | 174 |
| Roadworthy | RWC |
| Colour | BLACK |
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