1956 Arnolt-Bristol Roadster
- Engine
- 265 cu. in. (4.3L) OHV V8, ~225 bhp (1956 Corvette replacement unit)
- Colour
- 'Rosso Corsa' (red)
The Arnolt-Bristol was an Anglo-American sporting car produced when Chicago distributor Stanley 'Wacky' Arnolt acquired Bristol 404 chassis and had them clothed in aerodynamic coachwork by Bertone, designed by Franco Scaglione. This example was purchased new by geologist and SCCA racer Charles W. Aikins Jr. of Wichita, Kansas, who campaigned it in at least sixteen races between 1956 and 1959. After passing through several subsequent owners, it received a period-correct 1956 Corvette V-8 drivetrain during a 1990s restoration, and was later brought to a higher concours standard by a subsequent owner, with bare-metal repaint in original Rossa Corsa and a fully correct interior.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate US$350,000 – US$450,000
- → 1993Private saleGeorge Masseypartial documentation
Another member of the same racing circle who acquired the car in damaged, incomplete condition from Schmidt.
- 1993 →Private saleDan Lancasterpartial documentation
Texas-based owner who sourced a period-correct 1956 Corvette V-8 as a replacement for the missing Bristol engine and carried out a broad restoration including instruments and trim.
- Date unknownFactory deliveryCharles W. Aikins Jr.partial documentation
Purchased new; Aikins was a consulting geologist and oil industry entrepreneur based in Wichita, Kansas, who used the car extensively in SCCA competition through 1959.
- Date unknownPrivate saleLarry Schmidtpartial documentation
A friend and racing colleague of Aikins who held the car briefly before a rear axle failure rendered it unserviceable, leading to a quick onward sale.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownCurrent vendorpartial documentation
Commissioned an extensive further restoration after acquiring the car, including a bare-metal repaint in original Rossa Corsa, interior renewal, and sourcing of correct period components.
Competition
- 195512 Hours of Sebring 19551st, 2nd, and 4th place trophies taken by Arnolt team entries
Stanley Arnolt entered a works team of Arnolt-Bristol cars; the specific chassis offered here was not identified as one of these entries — this entry reflects fleet-level context only.
- 1956-04-28SCCASCCA race at Dodge CityDriver: Charles W. Aikins Jr.
Aikins debuted this particular car in competition over a two-day event on 28–29 April 1956 in Kansas.
- —SCCAMultiple SCCA regional eventsDriver: Charles W. Aikins Jr.
Aikins contested at least 16 SCCA races in total through 1959, at venues including Fort Worth, Phoenix, Tucson, and Aurora, Colorado.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1993Restoration
Following acquisition from Massey, Lancaster carried out a fairly comprehensive restoration including sourcing correct gauges and trim, and fitting a matching-numbers 1956 Corvette small-block V-8 with dual carburettors and a four-speed T-10 gearbox as a replacement for the missing original engine.
Lancaster could not locate the original Bristol engine or a direct authentic substitute, leading to the period Corvette drivetrain swap common among Arnolt-Bristol owners at that time.
- —Restoration
Subsequent owner had the car stripped to bare metal and refinished in single-stage Rossa Corsa paint to replicate the original varnish appearance. The interior was fully renewed in correct leather and period materials sourced from original suppliers, the alloy seats were reupholstered, and all brightwork and blackout trim was redone. Original Bristol steel wheels, brake drums, and Michelin X tyres were sourced and fitted. A NOS shift knob was located and a correct-look shifter fabricated.
Work aimed to raise the car beyond the standard achieved by the Lancaster restoration; racing plaques on the passenger dashboard were reinstated to match period photographs.
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