1954 Arnolt Bristol Bolide

In the years following the Second World War, several American automotive importers established marques of their own, under which specially commissioned European cars could be marketed through their existing distribution networks. One of the most enterprising figures in this field was Stanley H. “Wacky” Arnolt, an American industrialist and automobile importer who developed a particularly fruitful relationship with Carrozzeria Bertone. Following the commercial success of the Bertone-bodied Arnolt-MGs, Arnolt approached the Turin coachbuilder in 1953 with a more ambitious project. His intention was to create a lightweight sports car equally suited to road use and competition, based on the short-wheelbase chassis of the Bristol 404 and powered by Bristol’s two-litre six-cylinder engine. The Arnolt-Bristol was considerably more powerful than the contemporary Bristol touring models. It was fitted with a tuned version of Bristol’s Type BS1 engine, an advanced 1,971 cc straight-six whose origins could be traced back to the celebrated pre-war BMW 328. Equipped with three Solex carburettors, it produced approximately 130 bhp, compared with the 105 bhp commonly quoted for Bristol’s contemporary road-car engines. The four-speed gearbox and braking system were derived from those of the earlier Bristol 403. Nuccio Bertone entrusted the design to Franco Scaglione, then one of the most talented members of the Turin coachbuilder’s design team. The considerable height of the Bristol engine presented Scaglione with a difficult challenge, as the bonnet had to rise unusually high (given the considerable height of the engine) for such a compact open sports car. He responded with an ingenious exercise in visual balance: the strongly modelled front and rear wings, pronounced waistline and flowing lateral surfaces drew the eye away from the elevated centre section of the bonnet. The result was one of Scaglione’s most distinctive designs, combining dramatic proportions with a remarkably effective aerodynamic form. The new roadster attracted considerable attention when it was presented at the London Motor Show in October 1953 and was subsequently displayed in the United States, at the New York Motor Show in February 1954, where it was intended to find most of its customers. Bristol supplied the powered chassis from England, after which they were sent by rail to Bertone in Turin for the construction of the bodywork and interior. The completed cars were then shipped to the United States, where Arnolt’s organisation carried out final preparation and fitted any additional equipment requested by the customer. Because the cars were built largely by hand and in relatively small numbers, individual examples often display minor differences resulting from production development, competition requirements or customer specifications. Nevertheless, four principal configurations are generally recognised. The Competition was the most austere version, conceived primarily for racing and fitted with a small aeroscreen and minimal equipment. The Bolide retained the essentially competition-oriented character of the original car but offered a larger windscreen, a rudimentary folding soft top and slightly more practical road equipment. The DeLuxe was more comprehensively finished, with Connolly leather upholstery, improved weather protection, bumpers, side screens and additional interior appointments. A very small number of coupés was also produced, distinguished by enclosed bodywork and retractable headlamps. Approximately 142 Arnolt-Bristols were completed between 1954 and 1961. Traditionally published figures divide production into 85 Competition and Bolide roadsters, 54 DeLuxe roadsters and three DeLuxe coupés, although later research based on the Bristol Owners’ Club register has suggested that as many as six coupés may have been built, as some examples sold directly in Europe may not have appeared in S. H. Arnolt’s American sales records.Competition played an important role in the promotion of the model. The Arnolt-Bristols entered in races remained fundamentally similar to the road cars, although individual owners and mechanics introduced tuning and modifications according to their particular requirements. Their combination of light weight, robust Bristol engineering and effective aerodynamics made them especially competitive in the two-litre sports-car category. The model’s most celebrated early result came at the 12 Hours of Sebring on 13 March 1955. On their first factory-team appearance at the Florida endurance race, Arnolt-Bristols finished first, second and fourth in the Sports 2000 class, securing both a commanding class victory and the Team Trophy. Further notable results at Sebring followed, helping to establish the Arnolt-Bristol as one of the most successful Anglo-Italian-American sports cars of its period.

Chassis no. 404X3076 was completed by Bristol in March 1954 and subsequently sent to Carrozzeria Bertone in Turin, where it received its Franco Scaglione-designed bodywork. Once completed, the car was shipped to S. H. Arnolt Inc. in the United States. For many years, it was believed to have been among the Arnolt-Bristols lost in the fire at the company’s Chicago warehouse, but it unexpectedly resurfaced in the late 1970s. The car was subsequently identified as having competed in SCCA events in Texas.