This fine example of one of the most highly prized of early Bristols claimed a Silver Award for the Bristol Owners’ Club at the 1996 ‘Classic and Sportscar Show’, and was chosen to represent the 403 in the 1998 Palawan Press publication: ‘A Private Car, an Account of The Bristol’ by the much-missed LJK Setright.
First registered in 1953 as ‘RHT 403’, the Bristol was originally finished in black with Burgundy interior trim. The car comes with an extensive file of history that includes a list of owners, mileage records, assorted correspondence, and a substantial quantity of invoices issued by qualified motor engineer Spencer Lane-Jones, who first worked on it back in the mid-1980s. In a valuation letter on file (dated 22nd October 1991), Mr Lane-Jones states: ‘The car is in outstanding restored condition mechanically, structurally and cosmetically having been the subject of a total restoration to a very high standard commencing about 6 years ago. It has had little use since and is now one of the best extant examples of the model.’
The Bristol was acquired by the current owner acquired in 2002, having previously been registered to Dr Robin Eaglen of Wokingham, Surrey (from March 1995). Described by the vendor as in generally good condition, this rare and highly desirable Bristol aerodyne is offered with an old-style logbook, current MoT certificate, a VC5 document for the most appropriate registration ‘RHT 403’, and the aforementioned history file.
