The seller of this gorgeous 1957 Bristol 405 is apparently serious when he mentions that the original engine was dumped in Long Island Sound for use as a boat anchor, so there’s the added suspense of a treasure hunt should you buy this stately sedan and then try to locate the numbers-matching engine. Of course, that’s all but impossible, but you never know if some old-timers recall the night a neighbor lost his temper over a non-running engine and heaved it into the nearest open body of water. Regardless, this 405 has a replacement engine and is believed to be one of only four in North America. Find it here on eBay with bids approaching $14,000 and the reserve unmet.
The Bristol brand is one of those orphan companies that certainly had the hallmarks of greatness but didn’t achieve the same sort of dominance as the brands that would become the predominant luxury manufacturers. Just over 300 405 sedans were built, featuring inline-six engines and aluminum bodywork, with other novel tricks that spoke to a company with a knack for clever packaging. Despite this, you certainly don’t see many today, which makes this example all the more unusual to see offered up for sale. Even with the non-matching engine, British car collectors likely know that these don’t come up for sale all that often.
The interior is opulent and still looks surprisingly well kept despite not being a restored example. Older luxury cars like this can often look quite haggard if left to rot, as the fragile materials quickly break down under the duress of sunlight and moisture. Not the case here, as the leather seats look usable as-is and the carpets still appear to be quite clean. The door panels show as being complete with all trim intact, and while the leather is certainly tired, nothing here has been damaged or otherwise left untreated for eons. Yes, it all needs reconditioning, but this Bristol – in my mind – has had attentive owners that have at least worked to keep it in fair shape. The original dash, steering wheel, and gauges all remain in place.
Despite being non-matching, the engine is nicely detailed and appears largely to factory specs. The seller’s reference to the original mill becoming a boat anchor is a curious one, and I am genuinely intrigued as to whether he expects Bristol enthusiasts to attempt to locate it. A story we ran a few years ago cited how an Amphicar went down to the bottom of a Massachusetts lake, and local legend kept the story alive long enough that an ambitious group of explorers found it and raised it to the surface. Would there be enough interest on behalf of a British car club to knock on some doors and pinpoint where the engine was dropped? Doubtful, but it’s still fun to think about.
Wow, Barn Finds, Bristols, Greeves, Velocette, I’m impressed. It’s not just floorless US muscle cars anymore. We’re also getting quite an education on vehicles from around the world, or at least I am. I’ve heard of Bristols, but more for their swoopy sports cars. I read, this motor put out 105 hp,at almost 3,000 lbs., not a blistering performing car, the 3 Solex’s, good grief, one was bad enough. I’d have to think one US 4 barrel would be a better choice, although, the purists, who probably would go look for the motor in the lake, would scream bloody murder. This was more of a ( wealthy) family car, and O/D was standard. A boat anchor, by gar, that’s a new one. The only motor I’d use as a boat anchor, aside from ANY 2 cycle Detroit, would be that worthless non-turbo 3208 Caterpillar, but that’s another story. Most of us here don’t have pockets deep enough to support a car like this, but it’s fun learning about them.
So the Bristol engines are good boat anchors 🤔
I have always used the 67-69 Chevy 302 small blocks for just the right size for my yacht 🛥. I felt the 426 hemi was just a bit much.
Okay in all seriousness a cool car to learn about and priced right without the original engine.
They were great competition engines before the war when they were fettled by the BMW racing engineers who designed and built them. They were complex and specialist-labor-dependent anachronisms when they were installed in Bristols. Ford Windsors made for a massive upgrade in their engine customers’ cars. Chrysler A and B engines made engine production pointless for their own products.
In fact as far as I know, the Bristols were all powered by the BMW engine which powered the famed BMW 328 sports roadster. Three Solex carbs is a bit of a handful though! Beautiful car, a true gem.
As a wise ol mechanic once told me- there’s a fine line between a boat motor and a boat Anchor. Great story, thanks BF!!!
Cheers
GPC
I was once offered a Bristol 401 in exchange for my BMW 2002 Roundie but my wife didn’t like the front of the Bristol so I turned it down. That was the last time that my wife EVER had a say in what car or motorcycle I was going to acquire.
Ken,
Maybe it’s the time to tell your better half that you’re finally getting the Bristol you always wanted. And you may be getting a spare engine too!!! :-)
Cool car, though a little staid compared to the 2-seaters. They had a reputation for giving a very smooth and controllable ride on rough roads. That BMW derived 6 is pretty interesting, though 18 push-rods sort of makes my brain hurt.
But the engines are valuable now. At first I thought “lots of luck” finding a “boat anchor” in Long Island Sound. But then I remembered you don’t use an engine as an anchor, you use it as a mooring, which is quite different. You place a mooring in a somewhat protected cove and generally you pick a pretty logical spot. It might be found, who knows. 50 years in salt water? What could go wrong?
Ken Tilly, what a shame, the 401was really pretty and interesting.
Isn’t that like the car featured in the movie “Phantom Threads”?
Yep, you sure got that one. But also in “An Education” with the delightful Carey Mulligan the very same Bristol 405.
Nice catch!
Left hand drive makes this twice as valuable.
A very rare car indeed. About 25 years ago I visited a wealthy gent in central England. This man had what was at the time considered one of the finest motor mascot [hood ornament] collections in the country. His everyday car was a beautiful Bristol 405 saloon, in dark blue. I’ve not seen another one ever since.
I think your taking this a little to literal a boat anchor usaully means it was a dud a good example being here in Australia Bedford trucks are often referred to as boat anchors by the owners of other brands of trucks as a derogatory term and it’s some what true beinging built for the short hauls of England and not the long distances and conditions of Australia
The Bristol OHV 6 has a solid postwar competition history.
The 1971 cc 6 was used by Bristol in models through the 405 (1957) and was enlarged w/increased bore and stroke to 2216 cc – used in the 406 (58-61).
CJinSD – Beginning with the 407 and 408 Bristol used a Canadian Chrysler 313 built to ridged Bristol specs. It was unique to Bristol not available to anyone else. LJK Setright, the Bristol fanatic stated as installed power around 200 bhp. No where close to Chrysler’s 250 SAE gross number which Bristol bandied about too. This continued in the 409 & 410.
Bristol’s 411 introduced in 1969 had a 383 Chrysler.
Back to the Bristol 1971 cc OHV six. Before Shelby slotted a Ford 260 immediately bumped to 289 inches, AC was building and racing the class winning AC Ace Bristol. AC Ace came on the scene in 1953 with a version of their prewar (late 20s) SOHC 1991 cc engine. From 1956 – 1963 AC Ace Bristols were manufactured with the Bristol 1971 cc engine. There was a Ford option from 61 -62 with the 100 bhp OHV 6 in the AC Ace 2.6. Depending on tune the Bristol engine was rated at 105 – 115 bhp. The Ace 2.6 Fords could be provided in advanced state of tune by Ken Rudd.
Obviously Shelby was aware of the Ace performance with the Bristol six. May have driven won certainly raced with them in many events.
Frazer-Nash sports cars used the 1971 cc Bristol 6 from 1948 – 1956. They built very successful completion cars. Among them were the Bristol Le Mans replica & Le Mans MkII replica (not todays replica ie: whatever the chuck) and their Frazer-Nash Sebring and envelope bodied Le Mans coupé. There were a couple of amazingly bizarre streamlined Bristol competition coupés raced at Le Mans. With their ties to BMW (UK distributors) they used the BMW V8s of 2430 cc, 2580 cc and finally the 3168 aka 3.2 or 3200 in their final cars – not destined for the race track.
Wacky Arnolt had the standard Bristol 400 chassis slightly modified for his cars (Bristol in house 404x) supplied with the 1971 cc 6 and bodied by Bertone. Successful race cars with class win at Sebring in ’56 and ’60 for example.
The AC Ace Bristols (there were AC Aceca & AC Grehound Bristols also) and the Frazer-Nash Bristol sports cars will cost an arm and leg and a pot full of money to buy. £250k – £350k is not unusual. One with Le Mans race history was recently offered for Around £700k.
A photo of Ted Whiteaway in the 1959 Le Mans class winning AC Ace Bristol which finished 7th overall and as being restored by Mitchell Motors:
https://mitchellmotors.blogspot.com/2012/08/le-mans-ac-ace-from-1959-bare-metal.html
That 313 was enlarged to 318 for the 408, 409, and 410 models. Unfortunately the only V8 Bristols racing were used in regional hill climbs and club track events.
Apparently the engine used in this 405 came from a second car Arnoldt purchased at the same time as this one.