Bristol 400 Cabriolet Pininfarina

The Bristol 400 Cabriolet Pininfarina: Its chassis was delivered to the PininFarina workshops in Turin on 7 December 1946. Interestingly, the car was originally intended to be offered for sale as a Frazer Nash Bristol (the Frazer Nash sales brochure illustrates this specific car). As the relationship between Bristol and Frazer Nash fell apart, the car was badged as a “Bristol 2-Litre” and no further examples were produced, although Bristol did go on to produce six significantly different PininFarina-bodied cars based on the 401 chassis, and later approximately 18 examples of their in-house bodied 402 models. Chassis number 400/1/102 was initially retained by H.J. Aldington, co-owner of Frazer Nash Cars Ltd. and a director of Bristol Cars. Early in its life, the car was fitted with the first prototype Frazer Nash-Specification Bristol sports engine, number FNS 1001, in preparation for competition. The car was successfully rallied by H.J. Aldington, who was partnered with Eric Storey, the Bristol service manager. It was well placed in several important rallies in 1948 and 1949, including the 1949 Alpine Rally, where it was the only Bristol to finish without damage. The Bristol 400 Cabriolet Pininfarina was also illustrated in several contemporary magazine articles. Story and photos courtesy of RM Sotheby’s