Rare Car Archive

Makes › Bristol United Kingdom › 400 › 400 · Rare production · 1947–1950

Bristol
400

First post-war Bristol, a close-coupled two-door saloon derived from the pre-war BMW 326 and 328.

Bristol 400 (Wikimedia Commons search)
Bristol 400 (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: MrWalkr · CC BY-SA 4.0
?ProductionNot yet verified
0Chassis documentedin this archive
?SurvivingNot yet verified
Contents
  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Production & history
  3. 03Specifications
  4. 04Colours & options
  5. 05Individual cars
  6. 06Reference

01Overview

At a glance

Built
Not yet verified
Years
1947–1950
Engine
Straight-six, overhead valve (S6 OHV) · 1,971 cc / 2.0 LFactory: 1,971 cc
Power
59.7 kW / 81.1 PSFactory: 80 hp · converted
Top speed
154 km/hFactory: 95.7 mph · converted
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Not yet verified
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

The first Bristol to enter production, the 400 was a close-coupled two-door saloon inspired by the pre-war BMW 326 and 328 and built with wartime aviation metallurgy.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Model rarityNot yet assessed Production figure not yet verified.
Specification rarityNot yet assessed
Colour rarityNot yet assessed
Individual rarityNot yet assessed
Historical rarityNot yet assessed
Survival rarityNot yet assessed

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Photos

Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

No production figures recorded yet.

History

The 400 combined the chassis of the BMW 326 with the engine of the 328. It used either a Type 85 engine with one Solex carburettor or, more commonly, a Type 85A with three SU carburettors.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard 400.

No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyBristol S6, BMW-derived (Type 85 series)1 Independently researched
Engine codeType 85A2 Registry reportedType 85 with one Solex carburettor (75 bhp) is the other 400 engine per S2.
LayoutStraight-six, overhead valve (S6 OHV)1 Independently researched
Displacement 1,971 cc / 2.0 LFactory: 1,971 cc2 Registry reported
Bore 66 mmFactory: 66 mm1 Independently researched
Stroke 96 mmFactory: 96 mm1 Independently researched
Compression ratioNot yet verified
Fuel systemThree SU carburettors (Type 85A)2 Registry reported
Power 59.7 kW / 81.1 PSFactory: 80 hp · converted3 Independently researchedType 85 with one Solex carburettor: 75 bhp
Power at 4,500 rpm1 Independently researched
TorqueNot yet verified

Transmission & drivetrain

GearboxNot yet verified
GearsNot yet verified
Driven wheelsNot yet verified

Chassis, body & dimensions

ChassisNot yet verified
Front suspensionNot yet verified
Rear suspensionNot yet verified
BrakesNot yet verified
SteeringNot yet verified
Body constructionNot yet verified
WheelbaseNot yet verified
LengthNot yet verified
WidthNot yet verified
HeightNot yet verified
Front trackNot yet verified
Rear trackNot yet verified
Kerb weightNot yet verified
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speed 154 km/hFactory: 95.7 mph · converted4Motorbase (S1) gives 92 mph; the marque's heritage figure is used.
0–100 km/hNot yet verified
0–60 mph 14.7 s1 Independently researched
Standing ¼ mile 19.7 s1 Independently researchedSQM as labelled in the Motorbase table (standing quarter mile).
Fuel tankNot yet verified

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

04Colours & options

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Factory options & codes

Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

05Individual cars

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

06Reference

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

First series cars have a top-hung smooth boot lid, with the spare wheel carried inside the boot and chromed tubular bumpers that follow the body contours. Their headlamp units are smaller than those of the second series, which was introduced in 1948.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    Bristol 400 vehicle profile Level C Motorbase (Classic Vehicles Limited) · 2008-01-09
    • Bristol S6 (BMW derived) (Engines)
    • S6 OHV (Engines)
    • 66mm x 96mm (Engines)
    • 80bhp @4500
    • 0-60 column: 14.7s (Performance)
    • SQM column: 19.7s (Performance)
    Accessed 2026-11-13
  2. 2
    Bristol Owners' Club buyers' guide Level B UK Bristol Owners Club · 2012-03-08
    • a Type 85A with three SUs and 80bhp
    • 85 series engines were fitted as standard to 400s, 401s
    • a Type 85A with three SUs
    Accessed 2026-11-13
  3. 3
    Buyers guide Level B Bristol Owners Club
    • Type 85A with three SUs and 80bhp
    Accessed 2026-11-13
  4. 4
    Bristol Cars History Level A Bristol Cars Ltd · 2017-09-08
    • a top speed of 95.7mph
    Accessed 2026-11-13

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