Bristol Cars was founded in 1946 as the car division of the Bristol Aeroplane Company, and from the outset its automobiles were built to aircraft standards, in tiny numbers and for a discreet, discerning clientele. With the Bristol 407 of 1961, Bristol paired its hand-built coachwork with a Chrysler V8 and TorqueFlite automatic transmission, a formula that gave its cars effortless performance while retaining the refinement for which the marque was known.

The Bristol 411, introduced in 1969 and produced in several series until 1976, became the most powerful and most enduring evolution of this second-generation Bristol body, with hand-formed aluminium panels over a steel substructure.

The Series IV, introduced in 1973, received the larger 6.6-litre V8 with electronic ignition, delivering its power with the relaxed, torque-rich character perfectly suited to long-distance touring, while the self-levelling rear suspension introduced with the Series II ensured composure at all times.

This very Bristol 411 Series IV was built in 1974 and acquired as an immediate-delivery car by the McAlpine family, who had it repainted in British Racing Green straight away and kept it until 1992.

A second owner used the car sparingly between 1993 and 1998, before it passed to a third owner, who kept the car directly at Bristol from 1999 to 2004.

In 2004, the car was purchased by Bristol Cars Ltd. itself from the fourth owner, which described it as excellent and as the best example the company had seen in many years.

Between October 2004 and September 2005, the car underwent a no-expense-spared restoration by world-renowned specialist Lukas Hüni AG in Zurich, totalling to almost CHF 290'000. The V8 was completely rebuilt and upgraded to a high-performance specification with forged JE pistons, higher compression, a larger oil sump, adjustable rocket arms, a new camshaft and a high-volume oil pump, converted to run on unleaded fuel, balanced and run in on the test bench, and fitted with a Holley 600 CFM carburettor.

The automatic transmission and torque converter, propshaft, front and rear axles, including crack-tested axle shafts and the self-levelling mechanism, steering, braking system with both brake servos, fuel tank, radiator with an additional Kenlowe fan and air conditioning were all overhauled. The wiring was restored and the starter, alternator and headlights renewed.

The aluminium body was stripped to bare metal, corroded areaas were re-panelled, the underbody partially renewed and the bumpers re-chromed, before the car was refinished in its British Racing Green colour. 

Inside, the interior was completely dismantled and rebuilt, with re-sprung seats, a new wool headliner, new carpets edged in leather, a new windscreen sourced from England, carefully treated leather upholstery and mahogany woodwork refinished to a high-gloss lustre.

Today, this Bristol 411 Series IV is finished in British Racing Green over a Black leather interior and equipped with air condition. It is accompanied by its history file and the complete, itemised restoration invoice from Lukas Hüni AG. It represents a rare opportunity to acquire one of the finest examples of this exclusive British grand tourer.

Please contact us for more information on this Bristol 411 Series IV.

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