Bristol's continuing line of V8-engined sports saloons began in 1961 with the 407, though in appearance the newcomer closely resembled the preceding six-cylinder 406.

The adoption of Chrysler V8 power came not before time, as Bristol's BMW-based engine had effectively been outgrown by the car's increasingly weighty coachwork.

With 250bhp (more than double the 406's output) available from its 5.1 litres and a top speed of 125mph, the 407 re-established the Bristol as a true high-performance car but one which nevertheless retained all the refinement and luxury associated with the marque.

The 406's four-wheel disc brakes were, naturally, retained for its successor, which came with Chrysler's Torqueflite automatic transmission as standard equipment and coil-spring front suspension in place of the previous transverse-leaf set-up.

The chassis was up-dated and the styling revised periodically throughout the 1960s, the process culminating in the 411 of 1969.

The car offered here is an exa...