1953 Bristol 403 Sports Saloon
Chassis number: 403/1352
Registration number: RAE 442
With the introduction of the 401 - the first of its exquisitely styled aerodynes - Bristol began to move away from the pre-war design the company had inherited from BMW. Carrozzeria Touring provided the Superleggera method of body construction that overlaid alloy panels on a lightweight tubular-steel framework, while the low-drag shape was achieved after hours of experimentation in the Bristol Aeroplane Company's wind tunnel. The 401 continued to use its predecessor's running gear and BMW-based, 2.0-litre, six-cylinder engine with its ingeniously arranged, pushrod-operated, inclined valves, while the gearbox remained a manual four-speed unit with first-gear freewheel.
With the introduction of the 403 in 1953, Bristol improved on what was already an exemplary Grand Tourer, the newcomer's apparently similar appearance disguising a number of important advances. The engine remained a 2.0-litre six of basically BMW design but the alloy cylinder head was new and helped liberate 100bhp, up from 85 horsepower. The increase in straight-line performance (top speed was now in excess of 100mph) was matched by improvements to the running gear in the form of a front anti-roll bar and finned light-alloy brake drums, cockpit ventiliation was also improved amongst a raft of detail refinements. Bristol had built a total of 281 403s by the time production ceased in 1955.
Original Bristol Cars records show that this car was originally a works demonstrator, first registered in April of 1953. Indeed it was road tested by Autosport magazines John Bolster in August of 1953. Following the cars time as a demonstrator Bristol sold it to J.Fallon of London in November 1953- see original sales ledger. The Bristol cars service records show the car having various work done on it over the years, including the fitting of a remote control gear lever in 1954, a notable improvement over the original arrangement and remaining on the car today.
By 1965 ‘1352’ was with M.Ripley of Abingdon, who once again had Bristol undertake service work on the car . It then passed through the hands of Ashbolt and Price. Before being purchased by Willian Heddon in 1970. Notes on file show that he purchased a new old stock 405 cylinder block and 406 cylinder head for the car, both supplied by Bristol, these remain fitted to the car today.
‘1352’ was then owned by Bristol engined Frazer Nash specialist Bill Roberts, who purchased it primarily for the engine which with the 405 block and 406 head was very sought after. Fortunately before he was able to remove the engine collector Keith Yeo spotted it at his premises and persuaded him to sell it. The car would remain with Keith for many years, complete and running but little used- see images on file.
In 2008 the car was purchased by founder of our sister restoration company IS Polson- Ian Polson. Ian had admired the 403 since seeing them as a child in Australia and having known of the Yeo car for many years as a very original, complete and running, but tired example purchased it.
What followed was a typically meticulous restoration, with the aim of restoring the 403 back to its original condition as in Ian’s opinion the best fast touring car of its era. To this end the car was dispatched to specialist Andrew Mitchell to have the Superleggera body work and chassis repaired wherever necessary- see photographs and invoices on file, the bodywork was then given a bare metal re-spray by IS Polson, in Ian’s favourite shade of metallic green. A complete mechanical restoration was embarked upon carried out by IS Polson, with assistance from specialists including Spencer Lane Jones, IN Racing and Hawker Racing, with trim by John Foy, along the way various sensible upgrades were added such as a 405 type over-drive, for better high speed cruising, 123 electronic ignition, GPS driven speedometer, seat-belts front and rear, an original tool-kit was also obtained for it and custom made stainless steel silencer fitted- superior to the original.
Completed in 2020 ‘1352’ has proved to be everything Ian thought it would be, offering sporting handling, refined high speed cruising, all with the unmistakable feel of quality regardless of cost, a hallmark of Bristols of the period.
Reluctantly offered for sale now, only because Ian is now in his eighties and feels a vintage light car will fulfill his motoring needs better. ‘1352; is we believe the best 403 currently on the market and is ready to offer the new owner the unique combination of engineering excellence, sporting motoring and comfort for which the model is famed.