MODEL HISTORY
The Car Division of the Bristol Aeroplane Company was formed in the immediate aftermath of World War Two as a way of retaining its skilled workforce. Its first model - the 400 - was based upon various elements of BMW's pre-war range, the rights to which had been obtained as war reparations.
In effect, the 400 combined the chassis of the BMW 326 with the 1971cc straight-six engine from the 328. This superb cross-pushrod straight-six gave the Bristol 400 a top speed of 90mph and proved ideally suited to further tuning - it would be developed for use in a variety of motorsport applications during the 1950s.
The 400 used steel and aluminium body panels on an ash frame, and the majority of the car was built in-house - Bristol even made its own dampers and door locks. Steering was by rack and pinion, while hydraulically operated Lockheed brake drums were fitted all round. Independent front suspension was employed and the four-speed gearbox had synchromesh on all but first gear.
At a total of £2373 in 1948, the 400 was an expensive and exclusive car that was built in relatively small numbers - but its quality was clear from the start. When The Motor tested KHU 303 in 1948, it wrote that 'the combination of good performance and handling qualities makes the Bristol almost without equal for safely high average speeds'.
At the time, the magazine had tested only two other cars - both of which had larger engines - that could better the 400's top speed of 94mph.
The model was soon joined by the 401 saloon and the 402 cabriolet, which featured an updated version of the six-cylinder engine and revised styling by Carrozzeria Touring, but the original 400 survived until 1950 before being discontinued in favour of the 'aerodyne' 401 four-seater.
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