Registration - TOF 117

Chassis No. - 40514170

M.O.T. - Exempt

Odometer - 2213

Built in the same factory as the incomparable Concorde aeroplane, this rare Bristol 405 is a picture to behold. Its very well presented white bodywork is complemented by a white-piped red leather interior. One of its three former keepers was apparently a lifelong Bristol enthusiast, whose interest in the marque spanned 40 years. The vendor, in whose care it has remained for the last six-years, presently regards the bodywork, paintwork, upholstery, engine and manual transmission as all being in ‘excellent’ order, and had the pleasure of using the car for his daughter’s wedding. The surprise of the offering is that in place of its original Bristol powerplant lies an Opel Manta GTE unit which, though of the same 2-litre capacity, should give ‘TOF 117’ a notable performance edge over other examples of the model. A unique proposition.

Introduced in 1954, the 405 was the company’s only ever four-door offering. Effectively a long-wheelbase version of the outgoing 404, it was also the first of the marque to feature an opening bootlid. The newcomer was powered by the 100 B2 version of the company’s much-vaunted 1,971cc OHV straight-six engine. It developed some 110bhp and drove through a four–speed manual gearbox equipped with a Laycock de Normanville overdrive. Suspension was independent at the front by transverse leaf spring and by solid axle and torsion bars at the rear. Braking was by drums all round (front discs were optional) and steering by rack and pinion. Total 405 production comprised 265 saloons and 43 drophead coupes. The model was replaced by the 406 in 1958.

In summary:

• Very well presented in white complemented by a red leather interior
• Considered by the vendor to be ‘in beautiful order’
• Nowadays powered by an Opel Manta GTE engine rather than its original Bristol unit