With Britain finding its feet after the second world war, and the Bristol Aeroplane Company now no longer required to fulfill orders for new warplanes, the firm applied their aero-honed technology and skilled workforce to open a new automotive division, later to become Bristol Cars.

A “thinking man’s luxury car’, the new 400 model of 1947 was Bristol Cars’ first model was based upon respected BMW 326/328 underpinnings with an aerodynamically shaped body in steel and aluminium.

The 400 featured independent front suspension, synchromesh on the upper three gears of its four-speed transmission, and a highly modified version of BMWs six-cylinder pushrod engine, taking the model to an impressive 92mph.

487 examples were built before the 400 was ultimately replaced by the 401 and latterly 403 models of the late 1940s and early 50s.

First registered in July 1948, this handsome 400 has been in current ownership for the last couple of years, having been acquired curiously without a history f...