Jaguar, Aston Martin, Bentley, and Rolls-Royce typically come to mind when considering legendary British automakers. When it comes to SUVs that can go off-road, there is also Land Rover. But we hardly ever mention a number of once-famous brands. I’m referring to brands like Bristol, Wolseley, and Triumph.
Triumph persevered until 2004 but Wolseley folded in 1975. Bristol, a much smaller business, continued to produce cars into the 2010s and even made preparations to enter the EV market, but in 2020, financial issues forced them to abandon the project. The company’s future is questionable by 2023, but Bristol has left behind a few unique and coveted masterpieces.
I’m talking, of course, about the Type 4XX series, which started with the 400 in 1946 and ended with the 412 in 1993. The former was, in fact, heavily inspired by the pre-WW2 BMW 327, but Bristol switched to a more unique design in the early 1950s. Built from 1953 to 1955, the 403 was the last Bristol to feature a BMW-style grille. It was widely regarded as one of the most aerodynamic cars of its era.
It derived power from a modernized and modified version of the straight-six engine from a BMW, like the majority of Bristols from the time. The 2.0-liter inline-six, which had larger valves and main bearings than the 402 it replaced, produced 100 horsepower that was routed to the rear wheels. And that was enough to propel the sports car to a high speed of 104 mph (167 kph) and from 0 to 60 mph (97 kph) in 13.4 seconds. The 403 wasn’t very quick for its day, but it’s important to keep in mind that it was more of a luxury coupe than a sports car.
All Bristols were low-volume cars, and the 403 was no exception. While production lasted two years, the British firm sold only 287 units. And that’s mostly because they were considered outrageously expensive back then, outpriced only by vehicles from Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and Lagonda.
Naturally, the low production number makes the Bristol 403 a rare gem today. It’s unclear how many of these cars are still around, but most experts agree that fewer than 200 survived. And probably less than 20 are still on the road. The example you see here is one of the lucky ones that soldiered on for 70 years, but, unfortunately, it did so by spending more than five decades in a garage. Specifically, this 403 was parked in 1972 and neglected ever since.
After 51 years off the road, the 403 doesn’t appear as horrible as you might expect. However, the body is composed of aluminum, so there is no need to worry about surface corrosion. However, not all of it is good news. The inline-six engine must be completely rebuilt in order to be functional again because it was taken out of the vehicle in the 1970s.
Surprisingly, the majority of the leather and the headliner are still in good shape despite the interior’s general poor state. The cabin is finished, which is more significant. The engine is the same way, with its components dispersed throughout the garage. All things considered, this Bristol is fully equipped for a rotisserie restoration. But will it succeed?
Well, the owner has recently restored a BMW 3 Series E30, and we could say he has some experience in that direction. But apparently, he’s planning on doing a more sympathetic refresh once he gets the six-cylinder mill rebuilt and running. And that’s excellent news for one of the rarest British cars out there. Until that happens, watch it coming out of storage after more than 50 years in the video below.