1954 Arnolt-Bristol Bolide Roadster

This automobile is one of 142 Arnolt Bristol cars produced. Bristol Cars Limited was a low-volume manufacturer of luxury touring cars based in Filton, near Bristol, in the United Kingdom. Bristol Cars was founded shortly after World War II and were initially organized as a division of the Bristol Aeroplane Company. Their intention was to employ their skilled workforce after wartime aviation contracts began to dwindle. Bristol assumed the right to produce a pre-war BWM-designed six-cylinder engine and this formed the basis of their first car, the 400.

Arnolt produced a Bristol-engined car during the 1950s from their plant in Warsaw, Indiana making it, perhaps, the only American Bristol. Arnolt ceased operations in the mid-1960s. Arnolt built these 'specials' in conjunction with the coachbuilder Bertone.

Stanley 'Wacky' Arnolt was the driving force behind the creation of the Arnolt-Bristol automobile. Arnolt was a wealthy industrialist from Indiana whose serendipitous encounter with Nuccio Bertone at the 1952 Turin Motor Show ultimately resulted in the production of the Arnolt-Bristol.

The mechanical basis for the Arnolt-Bristol was a Bristol 404 chassis with a Bristol BS MK II Series engine of 130 horsepower. This chassis was bodied by Michelotti who created the actual design. There were a total of 142 cars produced with production beginning in 1953 and ending in the late 1950s. The model line-up included six coupes and the remained were Bolide or Deluxe Roadsters. The Bolide was advertised for $3,995.

The current owner of this Arnolt-Bristol Bolide, #3055, purchased the car in August of 1970. Although it has no known racing history, it has some very desirable options, including a remote shifter mechanism, competition windscreen, and the very rare Borrani knock-off wheels, of which only ten sets were produced.