1954 Arnolt-Bristol Bolide Roadster

This Arnolt-Bristol is the documented prototype, the first one made. The Arnolt-Bristol was commissioned by S.H. Arnolt of Chicago to be built on a modified Bristol 404 chassis and sent to Bertone, Turin, Italy where the bodies were hand formed and installed. Only 142 Arnolt-Bristolts were built between 1953 and 1956. Twelve were destroyed in a Chicago warehouse fire and it is estimated that 90 or more of the remaining 130 cars still exist today. This car, serial number 404 x 3000, was found in 1992 in a dirt floor shed in Joliet, Illinois. As a rusting hulk, the car was nearly beyond restoration. The owner's daughter compiled and published a hardbound book on the history and restoration of this historically significant car.

Stanley 'Wacky' Arnolt earned his nickname 'Wacky' by crossing Lake Michigan alone in a 14-foot boat in heavy fog, a distance of some ninety miles in open water. Having made his fortune in WW2 selling boat motors, 'Wacky' became a region BMC distributor and US distributor for Bristol cars in 1952. He purchased a stake in the Italian Bertone company and arranged the manufacture of Bertone-bodied Arnolt MGs. Using his Bristol connection, the UK manufacturer's 404 received Bertone-designed body treatments in 1953. Wacky negotiated with Tony Cook to build specially-bodied Bristols for the U.S. market. The first 'experiment' was with chassis number 404X3000, which was sent to Bertone Coachbuilders in Turin Italy in 1953. The Bristol chassis possessed an immediate challenge to automotive designer Franco Scaglione - the BMW-based Bristol engine which was very tall. Mr. Scaglione proved he was up to the task and sculpted an elegant solution to house the powerplant.

The completed car was sent to England for testing, and it remained there until it was shipped to New York and received on February 1, 1954. Delivery to Columbus Sports Cars, in Columbus, OH followed in March. Bob Fergus the proprietor of Columbus Sports Car, raced 404X3000 at Andrews Air Force Base, and several other Midwest sports car events. The car then passed to a Mr. Richard Ross of Columbus, Ohio. It is believed that Mr. Ross retained the car until 1957 when it was sold to Raymond Motors in Cincinnati. The next caretaker was Mr. Walter Tormohlen, who was the first to register the car for road use.

Mr. Tormohlen raced the car with the Bristol engine. The engine later blew, and it was replaced by a fuel injected 283 Chevy. He also painted the car white. Walter retained the car through 1965 when it passed to a Mr. Bob Schifrin. In his ownership, the car was painted blue and he added small bumpers to the grill. In 1968, the car was sold and would eventually pass through three documented owners, before being purchased by Mr. Matt Shuck.

The current owner acquired the car in the early 1990s. At the time, the car was located in Joliet, IL, and had been laid up in a shed for over 13 years. It was in 'barn find' condition and missing its engine and transmission, but it was more or less complete. After purchasing the car, the new owner began an extensive and meticulous restoration that would take nearly twenty years to complete. During the process, a parts car was purchased, which supplied a correct engine, gearbox and rear axle.

The original color of red was chosen for refinishing the body. The interior was trimmed in tan leather and a tan canvas for the top and tonneau cover.

The 1971cc overhead valve six-cylinder engine is fitted with triple Solex carburetors and offers 130 horsepower. There is a four-speed manual transmission and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes.

The owner decided to part with the freshly restored car at the 2017 Bonhams auction in Amelia Island, Fl. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $324,500 including the buyer's premium.

The Arnolt-Bristols were sold in three different models: the deluxe, the bolide, and the coupe. The more road-friendly version was called the Deluxe, and it came fitted with bumpers and a folding top. The bolide was essentially a race-trimmed vehicle.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2017