Arnolt Bristol
Discussion
The uninitiated sometimes mistake this car for a 427 Cobra, but the Arnolt Bristol is not a kit car or replica. Who would believe that an authentic, 45-year-old competition car is prowling the streets of the neighborhood?
Introduced to the public at the London Motor Show in the fall of '53, the first Arnolt Bristols arrived in the U.S. early in 1954. A total of 142 cars were built over the next few years, among them 3 Coupés, a few all-aluminum bodied cars, and even a few that were powered by Chevrolet V-8s.
More
www.californiaclassix.com/archive/54_Arnolt_Bristol_c25.html
Introduced to the public at the London Motor Show in the fall of '53, the first Arnolt Bristols arrived in the U.S. early in 1954. A total of 142 cars were built over the next few years, among them 3 Coupés, a few all-aluminum bodied cars, and even a few that were powered by Chevrolet V-8s.
More
www.californiaclassix.com/archive/54_Arnolt_Bristol_c25.html
"A giant heart lurks beneath the front-hinged, aluminum hood. This Arnolt Bristol is powered by 454 cubic inches of CHEVROLET's rawest muscle on steroids. Being of 1970 vintage, the power plant puts out 345 horses in stock form and is only lightly tweaked. An EDELBROCK Street Dominator aluminum intake manifold, topped with a HOLLEY 650 cfm Spread Bore Double Pumper, enhance the engine's performance. Add an ISKY cam and cylinder heads that have been cleaned up by Valley Head Service, along with custom headers by Doug, and total output should be in the 400+ hp range. Polished aluminum, finned valve covers complete the picture. Power is fed to a stout MUNCIE 4-speed manual top loader transmission.
Considering the low weight (about 2,200 lbs) of the Arnolt Bristol, its power-to-weight ratio is an astonishing 2.5 kg/hp. This definitely is 427 Cobra territory!"
..........................
Check the url guys, specs are all over. And some nice piccies.
No two Arnolt Bristols look the same. Standard they came with a 2 litre. This red has a 454 cid V8, must go like hell. Check these tires . . .
Considering the low weight (about 2,200 lbs) of the Arnolt Bristol, its power-to-weight ratio is an astonishing 2.5 kg/hp. This definitely is 427 Cobra territory!"
..........................
Check the url guys, specs are all over. And some nice piccies.
No two Arnolt Bristols look the same. Standard they came with a 2 litre. This red has a 454 cid V8, must go like hell. Check these tires . . .
I remember a few of these at the Oulton park Gold Cup. They'd split the car park up for the clubs so the contents were almost as valuable as those inside the paddock. Alongside these beauties were 3 (yes, all together!) Frazer-Nash LeMans reps, and the Ferrari enclosure included a Daytona, an F40 and a 250SWB, among others.
It's a 'definate' for this summer!
It's a 'definate' for this summer!
Sorry chaps although I subscribe to the 'its my car I'll do what I like with it'school I do think that it is a terrible shame that a nice car like the Arnolt Bristol should be butchered and turned into a boy racer Cobra wannabe. The original had a wonderful balance and style.
I suppose its my grumpy old man genes coupled with my love of Bristols thats making me such a miserable old git.
I suppose its my grumpy old man genes coupled with my love of Bristols thats making me such a miserable old git.
gnomesmith said:
Sorry chaps although I subscribe to the 'its my car I'll do what I like with it'school I do think that it is a terrible shame that a nice car like the Arnolt Bristol should be butchered and turned into a boy racer Cobra wannabe. The original had a wonderful balance and style.
I suppose its my grumpy old man genes coupled with my love of Bristols thats making me such a miserable old git.
I can agree, actually. I once saw a Cord 810 that had been chopped and 'rodded, featured orange flame paint and white wings attached to the wheels, which were big alloys.
Well that's like taking a Frank Lloyd-Wright house and fitting nouveau-riche fake coaching lamps and plastic columns. If you're going to make a good looking 'rod, use something that wasn't worth much and make some money turning it into something unique, for christ's sake don't take an Art-Deco masterpiece and turn it into something that'll look rubbish in ten year's time.
Same goes for those E-types with big-block V8s and bonnet scoops you sometimes see in the 'states - the XK engine is far more efficient and advanced than any cheap-horsepower muscle-block V8s.
What on earth is wrong with the upgrade of a car . . . Some ABs are original and some are modified along evolutions way . . . Original 60s examples with v8s are there.
When someone wants to drop a race v8 in a 944 the review and the reaction to it shouts: what a great idea and brilliant work. These Bristols are made to work on, all the time, to make em faster and all that. This may be a typical east coast cruise 'n drag racer but it is done with taste. A Cord with the flames on is different league aka bad taste . Or am I missing something?
This red muscle stands next to a Cobra, Cheetah and, here in Europe, Ginnetta kinda cars . . .
When someone wants to drop a race v8 in a 944 the review and the reaction to it shouts: what a great idea and brilliant work. These Bristols are made to work on, all the time, to make em faster and all that. This may be a typical east coast cruise 'n drag racer but it is done with taste. A Cord with the flames on is different league aka bad taste . Or am I missing something?
This red muscle stands next to a Cobra, Cheetah and, here in Europe, Ginnetta kinda cars . . .
Nothing wrong with modifying and upgrading any car; after all there is very little that cannot be improved somehow. If the owner of the Arnolt Bristol in question finds pleasure in the car as it is then there can be no further criticism of what he has done. I may not like it and, if asked, would say so. What I wouldn't do is to say that it shouldn't be done.
Er hang on a minute.... this is a seriously modded Arnolt Bristol. The original ones (from '54) were actually powered by the BMW 2.0 6 cylinder engine which found its way into many british sports cars of the age - AC Ace / Acea, Frazer Nash, Jensen, Bristol etc....
In its day it was a cracking car with excellent handling and pretty good performance since it was very light. However, it certainly didnt run a V8 and the wheels are definately an after-market addition. It wouldnt qualify for historic racing in that form.
For more info see:
www.worlduph.com/cars4sale/carab1.htm
In its day it was a cracking car with excellent handling and pretty good performance since it was very light. However, it certainly didnt run a V8 and the wheels are definately an after-market addition. It wouldnt qualify for historic racing in that form.
For more info see:
www.worlduph.com/cars4sale/carab1.htm
A Bristol is a Bristol is a Bristol, er: not . . .
www.fast-autos.net/bristol/bristolspeedster.html
www.rover-club-fr.org/pages/Bristol.htm
www.boc.net/history.html
"All later production Bristols were to be fitted with Chrysler V8 engines of various capacities from 5,130cc upwards, together with the Torqueflite automatic gearbox. Over the past half century, production has not been huge. Small as it is, the company has survived because it fills a niche for those connoisseurs who value a superb car above mere price. The Chrysler-engined models began with the Type 407 in 1961, which apart from the engine and gearbox, looks very similar to the 406."
www.motorcities.com/contents/01H0M463018089.html
"One of the most famous contenders for the street/strip crown, however, was "Wacky" Arnolt's brainchild, the Arnolt Bristol Bolide. "Wacky's" first claim to fame was ordering 200 special-bodied MG TDs from Nuccio Bertone in Italy, thus single-handedly saving the venerable coachbuilder from certain bankruptcy. The Arnolt-MGs were beautiful to behold, if somewhat slow. Every single one of them sold, and "Wacky" began to think big. He linked forces with the British Bristol Aeroplane Works, which--in addition to RAF fighter planes--offered a very exclusive, hand built, high performance Coupé, roughly from the same mold as the Aston Martin or Jensen. Complete, driving chassis were purchased from Bristol and delivered to Bertone's Turin factory, where they were clad with a voluptuous roadster body. This design masterpiece was penned by Franco Scaglione, who at the time also was working on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint and, more importantly, on the famous aerodynamic B.A.T. show cars.
Introduced to the public at the London Motor Show in the fall of '53, the first Arnolt Bristols arrived in the U.S. early in 1954. A total of 142 cars were built over the next few years, among them 3 Coupés, a few all-aluminum bodied cars, and even a few that were powered by Chevrolet V-8s.
Based on a shortened Bristol model 404 chassis, the car had a 96-inch wheelbase and measured about 14 ft. in overall length. Its hand-formed steel body featured aluminum-skinned hoods, and was sparsely equipped. A full windshield, wipers, bumpers, top, or roll bar were extra-cost options on the Bolide. Chassis No. 3010 apparently is the 10th Arnolt Bristol manufactured. Built probably as early as 1954, the Certificate of Title states 1957 as the year it was first sold.
The Arnolt Company operated its own racing team, winning its class at Sebring in 1955, '56, and '60. Privately owned Arnolt Bristols were the scourge of SCCA E-Production classes for years and collected innumerable racing successes. Now fully VSCCA eligible for vintage events, quite a few of these fast cars are still actively raced. According to its former owner, the car for auction here has a rich competition history; among other tracks, it has been raced at Road America, SIR, Watkins Glen, and Bridgehampton, well into the 1980s.
Rich Taylor writes in his book "Modern Classics": "Compared to most other limited-production sports cars available at the time, the Arnolt Bristol was extremely well put together, incredibly robust, beautiful . . . and it went like hell. All in all, it was a peculiarly happy design, well balanced, a delight to drive, and more than equal to similarly sized Ferraris and Maseratis." Today, the Arnolt Bristol is recognized as a Milestone Car by the MCS of America."
www.bramclassauto.com/nophotoads.php
1957 Arnolt Bristol SOLD Ad Number 28rare roadster, extensive race documentation, Chev V8 with original Bristol engine available, Blue/Orange, streetable
$59,500 CDN (or $39,500 USD)
Mr. "Wacky" picked up a Bristol to modify. I think Robby Williams Crossblade is looked at differently than the regular out of the shop models OR a pumped up turboed Pantera is looked at differently than an original and well kept car . . . Every car has its place. well, I'm driftin' off here . . .
www.fast-autos.net/bristol/bristolspeedster.html
www.rover-club-fr.org/pages/Bristol.htm
www.boc.net/history.html
"All later production Bristols were to be fitted with Chrysler V8 engines of various capacities from 5,130cc upwards, together with the Torqueflite automatic gearbox. Over the past half century, production has not been huge. Small as it is, the company has survived because it fills a niche for those connoisseurs who value a superb car above mere price. The Chrysler-engined models began with the Type 407 in 1961, which apart from the engine and gearbox, looks very similar to the 406."
www.motorcities.com/contents/01H0M463018089.html
"One of the most famous contenders for the street/strip crown, however, was "Wacky" Arnolt's brainchild, the Arnolt Bristol Bolide. "Wacky's" first claim to fame was ordering 200 special-bodied MG TDs from Nuccio Bertone in Italy, thus single-handedly saving the venerable coachbuilder from certain bankruptcy. The Arnolt-MGs were beautiful to behold, if somewhat slow. Every single one of them sold, and "Wacky" began to think big. He linked forces with the British Bristol Aeroplane Works, which--in addition to RAF fighter planes--offered a very exclusive, hand built, high performance Coupé, roughly from the same mold as the Aston Martin or Jensen. Complete, driving chassis were purchased from Bristol and delivered to Bertone's Turin factory, where they were clad with a voluptuous roadster body. This design masterpiece was penned by Franco Scaglione, who at the time also was working on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint and, more importantly, on the famous aerodynamic B.A.T. show cars.
Introduced to the public at the London Motor Show in the fall of '53, the first Arnolt Bristols arrived in the U.S. early in 1954. A total of 142 cars were built over the next few years, among them 3 Coupés, a few all-aluminum bodied cars, and even a few that were powered by Chevrolet V-8s.
Based on a shortened Bristol model 404 chassis, the car had a 96-inch wheelbase and measured about 14 ft. in overall length. Its hand-formed steel body featured aluminum-skinned hoods, and was sparsely equipped. A full windshield, wipers, bumpers, top, or roll bar were extra-cost options on the Bolide. Chassis No. 3010 apparently is the 10th Arnolt Bristol manufactured. Built probably as early as 1954, the Certificate of Title states 1957 as the year it was first sold.
The Arnolt Company operated its own racing team, winning its class at Sebring in 1955, '56, and '60. Privately owned Arnolt Bristols were the scourge of SCCA E-Production classes for years and collected innumerable racing successes. Now fully VSCCA eligible for vintage events, quite a few of these fast cars are still actively raced. According to its former owner, the car for auction here has a rich competition history; among other tracks, it has been raced at Road America, SIR, Watkins Glen, and Bridgehampton, well into the 1980s.
Rich Taylor writes in his book "Modern Classics": "Compared to most other limited-production sports cars available at the time, the Arnolt Bristol was extremely well put together, incredibly robust, beautiful . . . and it went like hell. All in all, it was a peculiarly happy design, well balanced, a delight to drive, and more than equal to similarly sized Ferraris and Maseratis." Today, the Arnolt Bristol is recognized as a Milestone Car by the MCS of America."
www.bramclassauto.com/nophotoads.php
1957 Arnolt Bristol SOLD Ad Number 28rare roadster, extensive race documentation, Chev V8 with original Bristol engine available, Blue/Orange, streetable
$59,500 CDN (or $39,500 USD)
Mr. "Wacky" picked up a Bristol to modify. I think Robby Williams Crossblade is looked at differently than the regular out of the shop models OR a pumped up turboed Pantera is looked at differently than an original and well kept car . . . Every car has its place. well, I'm driftin' off here . . .
pbrettle said:
Er hang on a minute.... this is a seriously modded Arnolt Bristol. The original ones (from '54) were actually powered by the BMW 2.0 6 cylinder engine which found its way into many british sports cars of the age - AC Ace / Acea, Frazer Nash, Jensen, Bristol etc....
One of the races at the Goodwood Revival this year will be solely for cars equipped with that engine - celebrating 75 years of BMW.
pbrettle said:
Er hang on a minute.... this is a seriously modded Arnolt Bristol. The original ones (from '54) were actually powered by the BMW 2.0 6 cylinder engine which found its way into many british sports cars of the age - AC Ace / Acea, Frazer Nash, Jensen, Bristol etc....
Only events in Europe and elsewhere between 1939 and 1945 had stopped BMW making that motor. The Arnolt was equipped with the Bristol engine as were the other cars you mention. Okay so it was a developed version of the BMW 328 motor but it was made by Bristol at Bristol's factory and to their revised drawings so deserves to be called a Bristol. It's a similar position to that of the motor used in the earlier TVR V8s which surely was a Rover not a Buick/Oldsmobile.
And just a word to those posting to justify the bastardisation of the Arnolt, read the posts carefully, nobody has said it was wrong and I, in particular, made a specific point of defending the owners right to create a tasteless monster if thats what he wanted.
1959 Arnolt Bristol Roadster
Yep, this looks different . . . and more original. but it's another car for sure.
www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=102&i=6036
New ones are not so nice looking . . .
Yep, this looks different . . . and more original. but it's another car for sure.
www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=102&i=6036
New ones are not so nice looking . . .
minimax said:
nice. 
any idea on the specs?
Original specs here:
www.carfolio.com/specifications/models/car/?car=49511
(Disclaimer: my own site).
Ciao
Zak
http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~kosco/arnolt.html
www.classicdriver.com/uk/find/4100_results.asp?&dealerid=10448&lCarID=1694026
www.astonmartins.com/feltham/db2_4_bertone.htm
Ex-Sidney Harold 'Wacky' Arnolt
1954 ASTON MARTIN DB2/4 MK I SPYDER
Coachwork by Bertone
Estimate: $360,000-380,000
This got to be the best looker . . .
www.classicdriver.com/uk/find/4100_results.asp?&dealerid=10448&lCarID=1694026
www.astonmartins.com/feltham/db2_4_bertone.htm
Ex-Sidney Harold 'Wacky' Arnolt
1954 ASTON MARTIN DB2/4 MK I SPYDER
Coachwork by Bertone
Estimate: $360,000-380,000
This got to be the best looker . . .
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