1957 Arnolt-Bristol Bolide Roadster

Chicago imported car and accessory dealer Stanley H. Arnolt, known as 'Wacky' for his demeanor, was very successful, with a large Austin-MG-Morris distributorship based out of Chicago and a seat on the board of Italian coachbuilder Bertone. In the early 1950s, Arnolt arranged a deal with Bristol Cars of England for 200 of the Series 404 chassis, powered by the company's 1971 cc inline-six, four-speed gearbox, and transverse-leaf and torsion-bar suspension. The cars were then sent to Bertone where they were given roadster bodywork, designed by Franco Scaglione. They were sold in four different configurations, with the most basic model known simply as the competition, with a low windscreen and a very Spartan cockpit. The Boldie models were slightly better appointed, with a folding half-screen. Deluxe models were even better appointed and were designed for road rather than track use.

This particular Arnolt-Bristol Bolide was sold new to Larry McNutt of Oakland, California, who used it in several SCCA regional events in Northern California, including at Stockton, Vaca Valley, and Cotati.

After Mr. McNutt's passing in the early 1960s, the Bolide rested in storage until 1974, when it was sold by his widow to James 'Jimmy' Dale. Dale competed with the car at Mosport in Ontario, among other venues, before selling it to the third owner in 1977. The new owner installed a small-block Chevrolet V-8 and nine-inch Ford rear axle and ran the car at various East Coast tracks and hillclimbs, in a new orange and dark blue color scheme, including annual appearances at Mount Equinox in Vermont for over two decades.

The current caretaker purchased the car in 2009. Since then, the car has been given $40,000 worth of mechanical rebuild, including reinstalling the original Bristol engine, which was included in the sale. At that time, it was also given a new, large aluminum radiator with a manually operated electric fan, a backup electric fuel pump, and electronic ignition.

The car has the original oil cooler and Alfin brake drums on the front. The Ford axle was retained at the rear. The original unrestored top and side curtains also remain with the car. Power is from an overhead valve six-cylinder engine displacing 120.2 cubic inches and offering 130 horsepower.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2016