Restore 403 or sacrifice for parts?

[Ashley James]

TT Workshops are having both heads and blocks cast at about £7.5K ea
and I think they are having made or are making lots of parts for
late BMW and early Bristols.
Alpine Eagle are great friends, I had the onerous task of writing the
funeral address for poor Roy Partridge, he was a remarkable man with a
knowledge of coachwork that few could equal. I helped with their
website and Rich, my son worked there for 7 years before starting
he trimmed that remarkable Kadoori Ghost and supervised the rebuild
of a couple of PIII's before he left. Few R-R and B restorers have won
more awards internationally or over a longer period.

Brian May has been accumulating parts for years now so that he can
sell cannibalised cars with enough bits to complete them for anyone
brave enough to take them on. There are two 405 DHCs, several 401-3s,
several 400s and some 405s and 406s. He also has a few V8's that are
on the road. He has a wonderful original 403 that he's joined us in
France with for the last few years. He's very popular and he and Jean
usually sing to us as the end of the holiday approaches.

Rich has done bits of 328s and a fair bit of my car, but he'd love to
rebuild an early Bristol. It's been mostly Bentley R types this year
although he is going to trim the Maharajah of Johdpur's at AE.

I think the most likely Bristols to be worth the investment are the
400s and the 403's, the 404 already has it's following and is secure.

Interesting to hear your comments on modifications. I've fitted and
overdrive, a 100B2 Bottom end, a Delco Remy distributor, Alfin brake drums and a Lockeed
Servo.

Ashley