To the victor go the spoils 1951 bristol 401 hemmings. We have getting started guides, videos, howto articles, troubleshooting tips, and more on overdrive help. The aircraftmakers finest car was the executive jetsetter of its day, as malcolm mckay explains. John eason gibson, country life, on the bristol 403. The 405, though not the 404, had overdrive as standard apart from the earliest models, and front disc brakes. In view of its excellent performance, stability, finish and refinement, the bristol cannot be regarded as an expensive car. The hagerty classic car valuation tool is designed to help you learn how to value your 1955 bristol 403 and assess the current state of the classic car market. One of only 281 produced recently rebuilt engine remote control gearchange overdrive transmission. The performance, handling and steering are not like driving a 50s car. Bristol library members can checkout up to 5 items at a time. This is wonderful example of an aerodyne bristol and classic british motoring. It has the disc brakes and overdrive, and feels so modern for its time. The bristol 403 is a luxury car which was produced from 1953 to 1955 by british manufacturer bristol aeroplane co. British airplane builder bristol started making fabulous luxury cars after wwii.
But bristol was more interested in access to the bmw lineits late 30s car line was highly. Visit help site cant find an answer on overdrive help, or need more assistance. Car profiles with info, photo and video from all makes and models. If this car had an overdrive gear, it would be unbelievable. The origins of the move from a single model to two three, actually, because the 403 remained in production until 1955, when the car division became bristol cars ltd lay in a plan drawn up by george white in 1946. Car encyclopedia 66190 cars with pictures and specs. It looked wonderful and drove superbly a very early rhd xk 120 roadster chassis no 81. One of the most coveted, the stunning 403, now resides in jay.
The bristol 403 is a luxury car which was produced from 1953 to 1955 by british manufacturer. Hand built british exclusivity motor sport magazine. Grey 1953 bristol 403 for sale by slj hackett ltd, retailers of thoroughbred motor cars based in warminster, wiltshire. This bristol has been regularly maintained allowing it to continue to be a great driving vehicle and this is only further enhanced with the addition of an electronic ignition, servo assisted braking and an overdrive. It was by chance that i, then a student studying rubens, first saw a bristol 403 in genoa, parked against the rusticated wall of a palace whose. A flickswitch engaged overdrive in the pleasanttouse gearbox. Specialists in selling preowned bristol cars and classic cars. It is 60 years since bristol began making cars, and in that time wb has tested many of them. This timetable envisaged bristol building a largerengined family car and a short run of a premiumpriced specialist model. The 403 was the third of the eventual five series of bristols powered by the bmwderived pushrod straightsix engine. It was by chance that i, then a student studying rubens, first saw a bristol 403 in genoa, parked against the rusticated wall of a palace whose powerful princes.
It replaced the bristol 401 and 402 in 1953 and continued in production for two years. This was a bristol 403 which had all the desirable upgrades including overdrive and disc brakes. With the introduction of the 401 the first of its exquisitely styled aerodynes bristol began to move away from the prewar design the company had inherited. Before we look at the details of the unrestored 4031404.