101 Bristol 401 Farina Cabriolet (1948) MCR 718 by Robert Knight Via Flickr: Bristol 401 (1949-53) Engine 1971cc S6 OHV Chassis 401/ 210 Production 611 (plus 23 Bristol 402 Cabriolets) Registration Number MCR 718 (Southampton - please refer to text) BRISTOL ALBUM www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/sets/72157623759876288... MCR 718 Coach-built Bristols are a particularly rare breed, with just 38 rolling chassis delivered to various companies for bespoke bodywork; Most notably Touring, Langenthal, Vanden Plas, Beutler, Ghia-Aigle and Pinin Farina and almost identical bodies were also fitted to Lancia and Alfa-Romeo chassis in the immediate post-war period.. This 401 is one of seven such cars bodied by Farina. Bristol Cars production records show that chassis number 401/ 210 was built in 1948 with engine number 400/ 85B/ 1342 and despatched out from the factory on 9 August 1948.the finished car returned in January 1950 and AFN promptly prepared it for sale, fitting 22mm torsion bars, replacing all four wheels and swapping the original 85B/1345 engine for the current BSC/1572 unit. registered as UMD 603 and owned by AFN Ltd. It was fitted with a replacement engine at a recorded 2, 246km. According to Bristol Cars, the Farina was subsequently purchased by Lord Jersey, who also owned a Bristol 400, and taken to the island of Jersey, where he had an estate. It was registered as MCR 718 at Southampton on 24 February 1955, presumably when it returned to the mainland. by 1968 it was in the hands of Roger Pearce Harvey who began a long term restoration, in 1989, consigning the car to TT Workshops.In 2011 it was sold unfinished to Jonathan Bradburn, whose father had been a partner in the Wolverhampton Bristol agent, Bradburn & Wedge who completed the restoration to a high standard, and was also able to re-unite the Farina with its original engine, which was found in Switzerland The Bristol 401 saloon and Bristol 402 cabriolet are British luxury sporting cars, produced between 1948 and 1953 by Bristol Cars, they were developed from the Bristol 400, which continued in production alongside the 401 and 402 until 1950. Although mechanically the 401 and 402 used an improved version of the BMW M328 hemi-head engine used in the Bristol 400, though upgraded with the use of Solex carburettors improving output by 5bhp to 85 bhp, the styling and construction of light alloy panels over a steel tube frame on a body by Carrozzeria Touring of Italy, was a huge advance. Its body was also more spacious than the 400 and was a full five-seater. The 401 and 402 featured distinctive with their headlights moved quite a distance into the centre of the body on either side of the narrow grille, which resembled BMW a little less than did the 400. They were also deeply curved at the front: this, along with the then-unique recessed door handles. Diolch am 98,520,946 o olygiadau gwych, mae pob un ohonynt yn cael eu gwerthfawrogi'n fawr. Thanks for 98,520,946 amazing views, every one is greatly appreciated. Shot 09.10.2022, at Bicester Heritage, Autumn Scramble, Bicester Aerodrome, Bicester, Oxon 166-101
