RESTORED, ELEGANT & OFFERED BY THE ORIGINAL OWNER’S SON

LMCT 7819
SN:4431
VIN: 402719
ENG: 85C1520

$275,000
(To be sold Unregistered & with Vic RWC)

FULLY ENGINEERED – 3.2L ALLOY INLINE SIX

Following the successful, BMW based Type ‘400’, the Bristol Aeroplane Company’s 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 just 20, with some suggesting only 13 are still surviving!

Chassis 402-719, the 19th built (second last), 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 it’s 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 70’s to the early 90’s by Bob & Mary Jervies of Wallaroo S.A, in which it was painted, from it’s original Black to ‘Cordoba Red’ and used by Mary as here every day car.

Found, and purchased by Tom Barr-Smith (the original owner’s 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 Bristol’s 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 d’Elegance, 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.

MORE INFORMATION?

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