Eric Minoff
Vice President, Head of Department - US
LOT 28
1953 Arnolt-Bristol Deluxe Roadster Chassis no. 404/X/3084 Engine no. BS1/MKII/285
Estimate: US$350,000 - US$400,000
Lot 28
1953 Arnolt-Bristol Deluxe Roadster
1953 Arnolt-Bristol Deluxe Roadster
Chassis no. 404/X/3084
Engine no. BS1/MKII/285
Chassis no. 404/X/3084
Engine no. BS1/MKII/285
1,971cc OHV Bristol 6-Cylinder Engine
Triple Solex Carburetors
130bhp at 4,200rpm
4-Speed Manual Transmission With Overdrive
4-Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes
*Offered from the stable of a prominent Northeast Collector
*The recipient of a meticulous mechanical and cosmetic restoration in the 1990s
*Matching numbers engine and original overdrive gearbox Deluxe model
*Eligible for some of the most popular tours worldwide including the Mille Miglia
THE ARNOLT-BRISTOL
Stanley "Wacky" Arnolt was definitely one of the more intriguing characters in American Automotive History. Having earned the nickname "Wacky" by crossing Lake Michigan alone in a 14-foot boat in heavy fog, a distance of some ninety miles in open water. Having made his fortune in WWII selling boat motors, 'Wacky' Arnolt was able to indulge his lifelong love of automobiles and by 1952 was a regional BMC distributor and US distributor for Bristol cars.
In 1952, a visit to Bertone led to Arnolt buying a stake in the Italian company and arranging manufacture of Bertone-bodied Arnolt MGs. His next venture made use of the Bristol connection, the UK manufacturer's 404 getting the Bertone designed body treatment in 1953. Despite being based on a Pre-war BMW design, the 328, the Bristol possessed one of the finest chassis of its day and its 2.0-liter six-cylinder engine was one of the most efficient around.
The engine in D2 tune produced in excess of 150 bhp and before long the pretty Arnolts were making their mark in production sports car races in the USA. After class wins at Sebring and Le Mans in 1955 and 1956 the works team was disbanded in 1957, but returned to Sebring in 1960 to capture class and team awards yet again. Production ceased in 1963 after a total of 130 cars had been sold. Twelve cars were destroyed in a Chicago warehouse fire, and it is believed that just 90 survive.
Arnolt-Bristols were available in three different models; the Deluxe, the Bolide, and the Coupe. The deluxe was the more road friendly version and fitted with bumpers and folding top, while the bolide was more or less a race trimmed vehicle.
THE CAR OFFERED
Sitting in the middle of the sequence of build for these cars, being the 84th to have been constructed, the immaculately presented example here was delivered new in 1956 and as verified by its elaborate and correct original chassis plate, it was supplied in left hand drive with 'Savid' Green paintwork and a Connolly Brown leather interior. This same plate confirms it to still retain the original engine that it was supplied with, being the Mk II unit 285, from registry notes its first owner was a George Meyer.
We know little of Mr Meyer's early history with the car, but its next chapter of provenance comes from the late 1960s when Bob Schifrin was compiling his registry and corresponded in a letter on file with Alan Geerts. The current registry suggests that he may have been the second owner. At the time Mr Geerts clearly expresses that he intends the car to remain in his family for many years to come, and indeed perhaps it did. We understand that it was restored around 1995 by Surrey Motor Sports of Niles, Michigan.
The car would later spend a decade in a prominent Mid-Western collection where it comfortably among a wide variety of European and American post war sports cars, and was restored to the current scheme, before arriving in the present active enthusiast's collection. Viewed today, its refurbishment remains in extremely tidy order, the lustrous silvery grey paint, with a central blue stripe being a perfect way of expressing the car's lines. Its commodious interior is well-trimmed in matching grey leather.
An Arnolt-Bristol was entered by Stanley Arnolt in the 1955 edition of the Mille Miglia, although curiously he did not follow through and actually run the event. By merit of the entry though, these cars are technically eligible to apply to the Registro to run the Mille Miglia Storico today, a very nice perk of ownership! They are also by definition of age eligible for many of the other long distance road rallies for which they are a great, and in the grand scheme of values today a relatively affordable entry. And, they also benefit from the well-proven Bristol power plant which is supported by a number of engineering firms who handle these and others with this unit, such as Frazer-Nash Le Mans Reps. As a Deluxe model, this particular car has the period option of overdrive to make those long open roads even more enjoyable.
With its good looks, excellent condition and roster of available eventing options this is a great way to experience 1950s sports car motoring.
Saleroom notices
Title in transit.
Additional information
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