Chassis 341

[dezelsky]

I looked at the Bristol 400 ch 341 - JYO 300 - at the Dore & Rees auction yesterday at Castle Combe. It is odd because it is a later car, but has the top hinged boot with spare wheel inside, fixed rear window, and covers on the jacking points on the cills. I was under the impression that only very early cars were made with this configuration. Does anyone know more about the history of this car? The description suggests that it had an extensive restoration in the 1990s. It looked well bought at £20k+commission, but from what I could see there might be an issue with a weeping engine block.

[Geoff Dowdle]

I don't have any early photos of 400 chassis 341 but this car is not what I would classify as a late 400 . It is car # 400/1/193 the 93rd of 421 standard bodied 400 produced from 1947 to end 1950 .
It was despatched ex the Filton factory on 5th June 1948 and I know of a few other 400 of that period had a top hinged boot lid and spare wheel within the boot. All these early 400 had a fixed rear window .
At £20k+commission the new owner hopefully will have some spare funds to fix some of the issues and non original parts on the car .

[innellan House]

Is that nice apple green likely to be factory original?

[dezelsky]

Thank you Geoff - yes you are correct, it is an original flat boot example. Not sure if green is the original colour, the service records on the club register don't mention it. Hopefully it will make it's way back onto the road again after a long absence.

[jimfoz]

Originally Posted by dezelsky

I looked at the Bristol 400 ch 341 - JYO 300 - at the Dore & Rees auction yesterday at Castle Combe. It is odd because it is a later car, but has the top hinged boot with spare wheel inside, fixed rear window, and covers on the jacking points on the cills. I was under the impression that only very early cars were made with this configuration. Does anyone know more about the history of this car? The description suggests that it had an extensive restoration in the 1990s. It looked well bought at £20k+commission, but from what I could see there might be an issue with a weeping engine block.

That was in an auction back in May - a sale of Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts' possessions. Amongst the hundreds of household items were two of his cars - this Bristol, and a 1939 Cadillac (which my Rolling Stones memorabilia collector friend purchased)

https://auctions.bhandl.co.uk/past-a...=1&pageSize=60

Apparently he had a sizable car collection despite not having a driving licence.

[Geoff Dowdle]

This 400 chassis 341 was originally "Blue" which was a medium to dark metallic blue. It was a flat boot floor early (June 1948) 400 with top hinged boot lid and spare wheel fitted within the boot . At some later time the boot floor was lowered like the later 400 for more boot space. It seems cheap at GBP20k plus commission.