Bristol 401

Infobox Automobile
name = Bristol 401 Bristol 402


manufacturer = Bristol Cars (then Bristol Aeroplane Co.)
production = 1948–1953 611 Bristol 401 units 23 Bristol 402 units
class = Sports sedan
Convertible
layout=FR layout
engine = 1971 cc ohv straight-6
transmission = 4 speed manual
length = Auto in|191.5|0
wheelbase = Auto in|114|0
width = Auto in|67|0
height = Auto in|60|0
predecessor = Bristol 400
successor = Bristol 403

The Bristol 401 saloon and Bristol 402 cabriolet are British luxury sporting cars, produced by the Bristol Aeroplane Co. (whose car division would later become Bristol Cars) between 1948 and 1950. They were the successors to the initial Bristol 400.

Although mechanically the 401 and 402 used an improved version of the BMW engine used in the 400, the styling was a huge advance on the pre-war bodies of that first Bristol model. It was inspired by the Milanese designer, Carrozzeria Touring, and its most notable feature was that the door handles were not exposed and to open the doors the owner pressed a button into a groove in the door. The body also was more spacious than the 400 and was a full five-seater.

At the front the 401 and 402 were also quite distinctive with their headlights moved quite a distance into the centre of the body on either side of the narrow grille, which resembled BMW a little less than did the 400. They were also deeply curved at the front: this, along with the then-unique door handle arrangement, is believed to give the 401 a drag coefficient of less than Cd 0.36 — competitive even by today's standards and remarkable for the time.

The engine was the same 2 litre in-line six cylinder petrol unit of the 400, but was upgraded through improved Solex carburettors to increase power by convert|5|bhp|abbr=on to convert|85|bhp|abbr=on, which improved the performance further beyond what was achieved by the aerodynamics.

The suspension is independent at the front using a transverse leaf spring and wishbones and the rigid axle at the rear uses torsion bars. Steering is by rack and pinion. The brakes are Lockheed hydraulic with Auto in|11|0 inch drums all round.

Although the 401's production figure of 611 is still the largest of any Bristol model, the 402 is regarded as one of the rarest classics among cars of its day. In a recent survey, 13 of the 23 produced could be accounted for.

A saloon tested by The Motor magazine in 1952 had a top speed of convert|97.3|mph|km/h|abbr=on and could accelerate from 0-convert|60|mph|km/h|abbr=on in 15.1 seconds. A fuel consumption of convert|20.8|mpgimp|L/100 km mpgus was recorded. The test car cost £3532 including taxes. cite journal | authorlink = Unsigned |title = The Bristol Type 401| journal =The Motor| volume = | pages = | date = February 13 1952]

References