1954 Arnolt-Bristol Competition Works Roadster
Chassis 404/X/3046 is a Works-retained Arnolt-Bristol Competition, one of only two originally fitted with front disc brakes and a remote gear shifter. Delivered to Stanley 'Wacky' Arnolt in June 1954, it competed at Sebring in 1955 as part of the factory team managed by René Dreyfus, contributing to class honours and a Team Trophy. Subsequently raced in Canada by privateer Richard Milburn, who won CASC championship honours in 1965, the car later passed to vintage racer Thomas Mittler before participating in the 2010 Mille Miglia.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$401,000
- —Auction saleSold US$329,500
- 1954-06-20 → 1963Factory deliveryS.H. 'Wacky' Arnolt (factory works team)partial documentation
Retained as a works competition vehicle; never registered for road use by the factory. Prepared for racing from mid-1954 onward.
- 1963 →Private saleRichard Milburnpartial documentation
Active competitor on the Canadian circuit; raced the car in early Canadian Grand Prix events, earning podium finishes and ultimately a national club championship.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownThomas Mittlerpartial documentation
Well-regarded collector of racing cars who used this chassis as his primary mount in early vintage racing. The original engine block was cracked during his ownership at a 1985 Sebring vintage event; a replacement factory block was sourced from Arnolt's son.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownCurrent vendorfull documentation
Campaigned the car in the 2010 Mille Miglia; car presented with FIVA documentation, period photographs, race programme copies, spare parts, and the repaired original engine block.
Competition
- 19551955 Sebring 12 HoursDriver: Rene Dreyfus (team manager)1st in 2-litre class (team result); Team Trophy awarded
Three Arnolt-Bristols entered as a works team under Dreyfus's management, finishing 1st, 2nd, and 4th in the 2-litre class; third-place slot taken by a Morgan-Triumph entry. Team Trophy also won in 1956 and 1960 by the broader Arnolt-Bristol squad.
- 19851985 Sebring Vintage RaceDriver: Thomas Mittler
During this event the original engine block sustained a crack; a factory-sourced unnumbered replacement block was subsequently fitted, obtained from Arnolt's son.
- 2010Mille Miglia2010 Mille Miglia
Entered as car number 303 by the current owner.
- —Canadian Automobile Sports ClubCanadian Grand Prix (early editions)Driver: Richard MilburnPodium finish in each of three starts; championship title 1965
Milburn raced the car in three consecutive early editions of the Canadian Grand Prix, placing on the podium each time and ultimately taking the national club championship in 1965.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1954Mechanical
Following delivery to Arnolt in mid-1954, the car was prepared and set up for competition use in the upcoming racing season.
- 1985Engine rebuild
After the original block was cracked at the Sebring vintage race, a replacement unnumbered factory-original block was obtained from Arnolt's son and installed. The cracked original block was subsequently repaired and is retained with the car.
Both the replacement block (currently installed) and the repaired original block accompany the vehicle.
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