The Bristol 408

Visiting Donut Derelicts in Huntington Beach a few weeks ago I was engaged in conversation with a gentleman about the restoration of his 1938 Buick Special. While speaking with him the congestion of vehicles thinned and I spotted some 100 yards or so across the parking area a vehicle with a most lovely profile. I thought, "that chariot is Italian to be sure, and most probably a Bertone design!"

Here is the vehicle I saw:

I ask you,...does it not look Italian? Does it not look Bertone-esque?

Turns out it was a 1965 Bristol 408 Mark II, with bodywork by Bristol.

A little history:

The Bristol and Colonial Aeroplane Company was formed in 1910 and manufactured aircraft until 1960. As early as 1941 the company anticipated the need to keep its 70,000 or so workers employed when World War II ended. Bristol Aeroplane Company decided the best thing to do was to buy an existing car company. In 1945 they struck a deal with the Frazer Nash car firm, who had imported and assembled BMWs in England in the '30s, selling them as Frazer Nash BMWs. Bristol quickly negotiated the rights to several BMW models. The first Bristol car rolled off the assembly line in 1946 as the Bristol 400.

The 408 was built between 1963 and 1966 and according to the Bristol Owner's Club website Bristol built two versions of this model: the 408 and the 408 Mark II, which debuted in 1965 and ran through the end of the production run in 1966.

Both versions of the 408 came equipped with a Chrysler V8 engine and automatic transmission. The Mark II had a slightly larger displacement, however (318 cu.in., vs. the original 408's 313 cu.in. motor), and a lighter gearbox.

I spoke with the owner of the 408 you see here. He told me he was the 3rd owner, and that he had bought the 408 unrestored and partially dismantled from owner #2 here in Southern California. He also told me that owner #1 had been music producer Phil Spector, he of crazy wigs and "Wall of Sound"fame.

Note that this 408 Mark II is a left hand drive car. I haven't confirmed this yet but the owner told me this 408 was one of only about 40 cars built, and that this very one was the only left hand drive 408 in the US.

I've written to Bristol Car Company in the UK to see if they can confirm this information. I'll post an update if and when I hear back from them.

Update July 14, 2015: Bristol Cars responded to my E-mail and confirmed that only 16 Bristol 408s were ever built, and of those only one was left hand drive. So these pictures show a one-of-a-kind car, the only one of its type in the world!

Update July 15, 2015: Bristol cars has confirmed that music producer Phil Spector was indeed the first owner of this car.

A few more pictures of this lovely car:

The gearshift mechanism shown below is not original.

The spare tire is stored behind the front wheel.