1946 Bristol 400 Pinin Farina Cabriolet
- Engine
- 1,971 cc OHV inline-six, three SU carburettors, 125 bhp
Bristol 400/1/102 is a unique one-off cabriolet bodied by Pinin Farina to special order, with the chassis delivered to Turin in December 1946. Originally conceived as a Frazer Nash Bristol, it was ultimately badged as a Bristol 2-Litre and no further examples of this configuration were made. In its early life it received the first prototype Frazer Nash-specification Bristol sports engine and was rallied by H.J. Aldington, including the 1949 Alpine Rally. A comprehensive cost-no-object restoration was carried out by specialist Spencer Lane-Jones between 1989 and 1999, after which the car appeared at events including the Villa d'Este Concours d'Elegance.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold €224,000 (≈ $246K)
- 1946 →Factory deliveryH.J. Aldingtonpartial documentation
Co-owner of Frazer Nash and Bristol Cars director; retained the car after it was originally intended as a Frazer Nash Bristol, fitting it with a prototype sports engine for competition use.
- → 1989Acquisition unknownAnthony Manuelpartial documentation
Noted collector of unusual and prototype vehicles; used the car both on road and in competition for an extended period before his death, at which point restoration plans were underway.
- 1989 → 1989Acquisition unknownChristine Lane-Jonespartial documentation
Mother of the intended restorer; acquired the car following Anthony Manuel's passing, enabling the subsequent restoration project to proceed.
- 1989 →Acquisition unknownSpencer Lane-Jonespartial documentation
Specialist Bristol restorer who carried out a comprehensive, privately funded rebuild over roughly a decade, retaining original components wherever feasible, before selling the car to the current owner.
- Date unknownPrivate saleCurrent consignorpartial documentation
Purchased the car from Spencer Lane-Jones; subsequently toured it widely across Europe and the United States and exhibited it at prestigious concours events.
Competition
- 19481948 rally season appearancesDriver: H.J. Aldingtonwell placed
Aldington co-drove with Bristol service manager Eric Storey in several notable rallies during 1948.
- 19491949 Alpine RallyDriver: H.J. Aldingtonfinished without damage — sole Bristol to do so
Aldington partnered again with Eric Storey; the car was the only Bristol entry to complete the event undamaged.
- —Louis Vuitton Concours at the Hurlingham Club
Car exhibited under current ownership; specific year and award details not stated.
- —Villa d'Este Concours d'Elegancethree awards won
Entered under current ownership; won a total of three separate prizes across its appearance(s) at this event.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1946Modification
The first prototype Frazer Nash-specification Bristol sports engine, numbered FNS 1001, was installed in preparation for competition use.
This engine fitment was carried out early in the car's life while in the ownership of H.J. Aldington.
- 1989RestorationSpencer Lane-Jones
A full nut-and-bolt restoration was undertaken by Bristol specialist Spencer Lane-Jones on a privately financed, cost-no-object basis, with every component dismantled, repaired, and reassembled, prioritising retention of original parts throughout.
The restoration spanned approximately ten years, concluding around 1999, and was commissioned following the death of the previous owner Anthony Manuel.
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