Bristol 401 Cabriolet Pininfarina

Vehicle Overview

The Bristol 401 Drophead Cabriolet by PininFarina was advertised in the November 26th 1948 edition of the ‘Autocar’  as a: “fine example of hand craftsmanship and possess the beautiful lines, exceptional attention to detail refinements and luxurious finish throughout, which have distinguished Italian coachbuilders’ exhibits at Brussels, Geneva and Paris. The combination of coachwork by leading Italian designers on this latest version of a thoroughbred high-performance chassis provides the perfect car for the discriminating enthusiast” Records suggest that around only four examples of the Bristol 401 Drophead Cabriolet were built by Pininfarina. On July 27th 1948 A.F.N Limited, Bristol main dealer and one of the Bristol Car Company’s founding shareholders, dispatched Chassis Number 401/208 by sea to the Pininfarina coach-building facility in Turin, Italy. The completed car was fitted with Alfin brake drums, close-ratio gearbox, and a remote gear change and returned in time for purchase in March 1949 by its first owner, Robert Lee Esq. of London. The record of ownership is unbroken and well-recorded, compiled from the files of the Bristol Owners Club and a detailed history file, showing a life spent between England, Holland, France and Belgium, with rally participation as far afield as South Africa and Norway with the Bristol Owners Club.