1954 Arnolt-Bristol Bolide Roadster

Wealthy Chicago Industrialist Stanley H. Arnolt harbored designs of becoming a sports car importer. This dream became a reality following a chance meeting at the 1952 Turin Auto Show that kicked off a collaboration with the Bertone studio. Arnolt's eponymously named sports cars featured British running gear, Italian bodywork, and American sales and distribution.

First was the Arnolt-MG, a four-seat Bertone-bodied car based on the MGTD chassis. Then, the Arnolt Aston - a short-lived attempt to build a Bertone-bodied DB2/4. After the first three cars were built, Aston Martin quickly put a halt to this endeavor. Next came a one-off Arnolt Bentley, commissioned as Mr. Arnolt's personal car, replete with monogrammed flasks and glasses.

Arnolt then negotiated a deal with Bristol Cars Ltd. in Britain to buy 200 chassis and engines. Bertone's soon-to-be renowned designer Franco Scaglione penned an elegant design for what was to become the Arnolt Bristol. The rather tall engine created a design dilemma for what was intended to be a stylish-looking sports car. Scaglione handled this challenge with aplomb - adding a hood scoop and sharply creased fender lines to draw the eye away from the high peak in the hood made necessary by the three Solex carburetors underneath. The Arnolt Bristol earned its pedigree with a 1st, 2nd, and 4th place class finish in the 1955 Sebring 12-Hour race.

This is one of 142 cars built between 1954 and 1960. The chassis and drivetrain were derived from the Bristol 404. It is the first factory-built race car sold to the United States public. While 142 were constructed, only 130 were ever sold because 12 were destroyed in a Chicago warehouse fire. This car is number 43. Just 80 are known to have survived.

In 1955, the Arnolt Race Team fielded stock cars to race at Sebring and finished first, second and fourth in the two-liter class. With continued success, the Bristols were extensively raced in the 1950s through the early 1960s by private owners.

They now can be seen frequently participating in vintage racing events. To reduce weight, the hood and trunk were fabricated from aluminum.

This particular car raced extensively during the 1960s and 1970s on the west coast. It is all-original and underwent a restoration in 2012 complete with period-correct paint. It was previously owned by Indy/Formula II driver Jack Mayes.