Bristol 401

The Bristol 401 was one of the most aerodynamic British saloons of its day, with a flowing fastback body, faired-in rear wheels and a split windscreen. This 1951 car pairs the 1,998cc six-cylinder engine with a four-speed manual gearbox, and is finished in beige/gold metallic over a light interior with a wooden dashboard.

Its history is unusually well documented. The current owner bought it privately in North London on 5 October 1973 and has kept it for almost 53 years. A signed statement dated 27 April 2026 says it has been taxed every year and never SORNed, and that nobody else has driven it. He believes the 85,600-mile reading is correct.

The car was first registered JSC 32. The DVLA changed this to USV 177 in 1985, after the original number was missing from the new Swansea computer records. Several Bristol and classic-car specialists have worked on it over the years, most recently Kyte Garage in Wiltshire. The paint has aged, and the steering wheel shows wear. It reads as a used, cherished car rather than a restored one.