Bristol Type 401 – 2 litre Saloon

The first series of this type was introduced in 1948, and for two years was fabricated alongside the Type 400. First production models were leaving the factory in 1948. A second series was introduced in 1950. The third and final series followed in 1951. Production ceased in 1953.

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Bristol Type 401

The Type 401 was the second model produced by the company. It was perhaps the first in which wind tunnel testing was used to develop a body with a drag coefficient (0.392) to rival designs fifty years younger.

Another significant difference from the Type 400 is in the form of construction and material used. It is built on a 'Superleggera' matrix of steel tubes, mounted on the same open 'A' frame steel chassis, but with different outriggers at the rear to accommodate a lower mounted fuel tank. Further following aircraft construction principles, the body shell is now all aluminium. The doors have wind-down windows, and being larger, it comfortably seats five persons.

The First Series cars are easily identified by a distinctive ridge along the lower edge of the body.

A recognition point of the Type 401 in its original trim was that the front grille inserts were painted black, whilst the surrounds were chromed. Perhaps not knowing this, or preferring to change the specification, some owners have opted for silver-painted inserts (the style adopted for the Type 403) — or even chromed inserts, which was the style adopted by the Factory for the Type 400.

Three images of an LHD Third Series 401
Front near side view of a very nicely presented third series 401.	This rear offside view shows the rear lights mounted above and parallel to the bumper – a distinctive feature of the third series.	Interior view. As in the second series, the instruments are black faced, whereas those in the first series, like the Type 402, are ivory coloured.

Farina Drophead

In about 1947-8, a number of Type 400 driven chassis were sent to Stablimenti Farina in Italy, where various design exercises were carried out.

This is an example fitted with drophead style coachwork, on a chassis plated as a Type 401.	As the cognoscenti will recognize, the styling is similar in many respects to bodies executed for Alfa Romeo and other customers of that period.	This picture gives a good view of the symmetrical dash layout.

Touring Superleggera Saloon

As with other special design exercises being evaluated, a number of Touring Saloons were built upon early chassis. Importantly, these were delivered during the development period of the Type 401 Saloon.

The design was much admired, and though they were light and proven to be fast, they were also fairly noisy. The style was patently sound since it had appeared in many other forms, for other marques and if a little more more upright than desired at the front, unlike other styling exercises it was certain to influence the Bristol developed Type 401, and the later Type 403.

Perhaps it was not surprising that the construction favoured by styling house Touring of Milan was their patented 'super-light' or Superleggera method. This involved building a body support matrix of wire-tied tubular or lightweight metal rod frames on which to mount the body panels. In the detail, however, this did not meet the high standards of construction set by the Bristol Aeroplane Company.

Nevertheless, the benefit of the weight saving achieved from this method of construction was not lost upon the Bristol engineering design team. Thus the Touring Superleggera method was quickly refined and adapted to a more sophisticated if slightly more expensive level: first, by using proper cruciform fitted joints at all junctions, instead of a crossover of wire-tied metal rods. This formed a stronger support matrix, on to which the body shaped skin panels could be jig mounted and then neatly and uniformly welded together. This method distributed the forces applied upon the outer hull much more evenly into the matrix of the body sub-frame and into the chassis.

Another adaptation was to cover the support matrix itself with sound-muffling material before fitting the outer hull of the body. This, in conjunction with underfelt applied throughout the floor pan, greatly reduced the noise levels transmitted into the cabin. The trim cloth of the cars was replaced by quality leather and woolcloth fabric, along with Wilton carpets for the floors. This completed the cocooning of the passenger cabin and along with a slippery windcheating shape, provided the desired development of the Type 401.

Beutler Saloon

This particular car, with its chassis plated as a Type 401, is fitted with Saloon Coachwork by Gebr. Beutler AG of Thun, Switzerland. Two such cars were created and were originally painted in two tone fashion, one having a black roof and white or ivory coloured body, and the other a white or ivory roof and black body. At first glance, the coachwork on these two chassis was very similar, but in some details they were slightly different. For example there are a number of small porthole type vents set into the side of the front wings. The other Saloon did not have these. Some years later, in 1957, a third saloon design was to be executed by the Company, this time on a Type 406 chassis.

The car shown here went direct from Switzerland to Ceylon and spent many years there, before finally being brought for the first time to Britain. This was the unit that originally had the black roof and white or ivory body. It has since been refurbished and repainted two tone with a pale grey roof and emerald green body.