The Rare Bristol 403 Is Charming to Drive and Evocative of Its Era
A romp through any monograph on Bristol Cars—as with many arcane subjects—leaves one searching for a sense of order and a method to the madness. The Bristol marque was established in 1945, right after World War II, born from the automotive division of the Bristol Aeroplane Company.
Power for Bristol’s automobiles came from engines that the company built based on BMW’s model M328, a pushrod 2.0-liter inline-six originally developed in 1936. This successful design transformed over time, and powered not only early Bristols, but some AC, Frazier Nash, Cooper, and Lotus models. The most notable is the AC-Bristol, which inspired Carroll Shelby to shoehorn Ford’s 260 ci V-8 into the tiny AC bodyshell, the rest of which has its own rich history.
This 1953 Bristol 403 Saloon was auctioned through RM Sotheby’s for $61,600 in 2020.
Darin Schnabel, courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
Early Bristol models, like the 403, built from 1953 to 1955, represent the epitome of coachbuilt British saloons in the spirit of a contemporary Bentley. Priced well above $5,000 when new, it was the third of the five Bristol series powered by the BMW-derived engine, and its BMW-style twin-kidney grille betrays its power train’s origin. The vehicle’s fastback design is appealing in a Bentley R-Type sort of way, and despite the modest output by modern standards, the 403, of which only 287 examples were produced, is a well-made, charming car to drive and evocative of its era.
The immaculate interior is the result of a careful restoration paired with vigilant upkeep.
Darin Schnabel, courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
The first model made by Bristol Cars, and not under the aegis of Bristol Aeroplane Company, was the 407, of which 281 examples were made from 1961 through 1963. Its predecessor, the model 406, using the tried-and-true Bristol inline-six engine, was relatively heavy and thus underpowered, and so for the 407 and subsequent models, Chrysler V-8 engines became the power plant of choice.
The Bristol 411, with 287 examples made from 1969 through 1976, was powered by a 6.2-liter Chrysler V-8, putting its performance in league with true luxury grand-touring cars of the period. The Type 603, made in various iterations from 1976 through 2011, was the final Bristol GT. Curiously, most all Bristol cars made from the 1946 prototype share a 114-inch wheelbase, imparting a proportional family resemblance across all models.
The car is powered by Bristol’s engine based on BMW’s model M328, a pushrod 2.0-liter inline-six, that, in this case, makes about 98 hp.
Darin Schnabel, courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
The final Bristol production car was the sporty and altogether different Fighter, made from 2004 through 2011. With gullwing doors and powered by a Dodge Viper V-10 engine, only about 13 examples were made, with the company going out of business in 2020. Although total production numbers are sketchy, it’s estimated that fewer than 3,000 examples of all Bristol models combined were built throughout the marque’s 65-year history. And for much of its existence, Britain’s most enigmatic automaker had one showroom and a handful of loyal customers.
Only 287 examples of the Bristol 403 were made.
Darin Schnabel, courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
Eye-wateringly expensive when new, Bristol’s cars today command a wide range of values, depending on the model and condition, with good examples (apart from the rare Fighter) generally available in the $50,000 to $150,000 range. Ultimately, a Bristol is an acquired automotive taste, and much like the sea cucumber is in epicurean circles, enjoys an appearance and “flavor” as odd as that of any luxury car on the planet.
Click here for more photos of this 1953 Bristol 403 Saloon.
A 1953 Bristol 403 Saloon that was auctioned through RM Sotheby’s in 2020.
Darin Schnabel, courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
Authors
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Robert Ross
