Rare Car Archive

Makes › Bristol United Kingdom › 401 · Rare production · 1948–1953

Bristol
401

Aerodynamic second Bristol model, offered as saloon (Touring body) and drophead (Pinin-Farina body).

Still being researched: full specifications. Everything shown is checked against the cited sources. Know more? Send us a source.

Bristol 401 (Wikimedia Commons search)
Bristol 401 (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: Calreyn88 · 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
1948–1953
Engine
1,971 cc / 2.0 LFactory: 1,971 cc
Power
63.4 kW / 86.2 PSFactory: 85 hp · converted
Top speed
Not yet verified
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Touring (saloon bodies); Pinin Farina (drophead cabriolet)
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

The 401 was the second production model from Bristol's car division and possibly the first Bristol developed with wind-tunnel testing. Its body reached a drag coefficient of 0.392, which the club describes as rivalling designs fifty years younger. The marque's own history credits it as the first two-litre production saloon to reach 100 mph.

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 Type 401 was the second Bristol model. It used saloon bodies by Touring and a number of drophead bodies by Farina, with a Beutler prototype drophead and two Beutler saloons also listed.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard 401.

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

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyNot yet verified
Engine code85C1 Registry reported
LayoutNot yet verified
Displacement 1,971 cc / 2.0 LFactory: 1,971 cc1 Registry reportedBase 85 series engine figure, applied to the 401 per the buyers' guide.
Bore 66 mmFactory: 66 mm1 Registry reported
Stroke 96 mmFactory: 96 mm1 Registry reported
Compression ratioNot yet verified
Fuel systemThree Solex carburettors1 Registry reported
Power 63.4 kW / 86.2 PSFactory: 85 hp · converted1 Registry reportedSource states 85 bhp (85C engine). The dealer page S3 gives 'standard 80' for this car; the club figure is used. Unit shown as hp for bhp.
Power atNot yet verified
TorqueNot yet verified

Transmission & drivetrain

GearboxNot yet verified
GearsNot yet verified
Driven wheelsNot yet verified

Chassis, body & dimensions

ChassisOpen 'A' frame steel chassis2 Registry reported
Front suspensionNot yet verified
Rear suspensionNot yet verified
BrakesNot yet verified
SteeringNot yet verified
Body constructionAll-aluminium body shell on a Superleggera matrix of steel tubes2 Registry reported
Wheelbase 2,900 mmFactory: 9.5 ft · converted1 Registry reportedBase chassis figure: the buyers' guide gives 9'6" for all Bristols except the 404.
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 speedNot yet verified
0–100 km/hNot yet verified
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.

In original trim the front grille inserts were painted black, with chromed surrounds.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    Bristol Owners' Club buyers' guide Level B UK Bristol Owners Club · 2015-01-09
    • three Solex units for the 401 engine (designated 85C)
    • 85 series engines were fitted as standard to 400s, 401s
    • Bore and stroke 66 x 96mm
    • three Solex units for the 401 engine
    • raising the power output from 80 to 85bhp
    • have a 9'6" wheelbase
    Accessed 2026-11-13
  2. 2
    Bristol Type 401 - 2 litre Saloon Level B UK Bristol Owners Club · 2016-03-04
    • mounted on the same open 'A' frame steel chassis
    • built on a 'Superleggera' matrix of steel tubes
    • the body shell is now all aluminium
    Accessed 2026-11-13

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