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I bought my Bristol 403 (chassis nr. 1404, 100A engine nr. 3185) from a
respected and very helpful Club member in 2013 and I had her fully restored. The full history, with pictures
of everything that has been made on the car can be found at:
http://www.stefanopasini.it/Cars-Index_Bristol_403.htm
The
body has been stripped and restored with new aluminium welded where
necessary, the interior has been fully trimmed in Lords Red leather, the
dashboard renewed and all the instruments overhauled/ restored so now
they all work perfectly. Inside the front rolling sun blinds and rear blind have been
renewed and they work as they have to.
The engine has been left alone as
it compression is OK but the 403 has been given a new clutch, shocks,
brakes, steering joint, cooling system hoses, electronic ignition,
alternator (disguised as a Lucas dynamo), pre-engaged starter motor, overdrive (very, very
necessary on these cars to allow them to cruise effortlessly at 80 mph),
new front leather spring gaiters. The fuel
tank, AC pump and 3 Solex carburetors have all been overhauled and the 3
radiators have been rebuilt to ensure both a perfect cooling and excellent
heating when necessary. The gearbox was overhauled and it was fitted
with a short-lever conversion. A new exhaust system has been made on the
pattern of the old rusty Burgess system, also the foot-operated ENOTS
system has been rebuilt and it lubricates the front axle as intended.
The tires are new Michelin X radials and the spare is a new Michelin X
as well.
Needless to say,
every chromed part has been rechromed, the new front and rear speakers work
and are connected to a Radiomobile vintage wireless (converted to FM),
the 100-Amp battery has been custom-made to look as a vintage item by
Nettuno in Bologna and the engine bay hosts the original jack and
starting handle.
403-1404 drives very well, one of her latest long journey
was to St Moritz for the Bernina Gran Turismo event in September 2017, after
several trips to Villa d'Este for the Concorso and other events
(please see my blogs).
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Well, it has been a long and very interesting ride, but I am very happy to report that 403-1404 has been now sold to a gentleman who will surely keep in perfect condition; or, to be in line with the Marque, 'shipshape and Bristol fashion'.
(Bologna, August 2019) |
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The 403 has been delivered 4 September 2019 to her new own, a very knowledgeable gentleman in the South of France. I'm very happy that she found such a nice new home.
For the transport my good friend Corrado Lo Presto recommended RPM Logistic System SA, Via Dante Alighieri,7, CH-6830 Chiasso, tel 0041 91 682 00 71, and their service was excellent
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