£20,000 - £30,000
1952 Bristol 401 Sports Saloon
United Kingdom • 22 Nov 2025 • Lot 217
Vehicle Details
AI Listing Summary
This 1952 Bristol 401 Sports Saloon, with registration UMG 898 and chassis number 401/1211, boasts a history file dating back to the 1970s and current family ownership since 2008.
Maintained by Spencer Lane-Jones Ltd. for 20 years, it comes with extensive service bills and documents, making it a nicely preserved example.
Condition
7
Solid condition, minor reconditioning needed.
/ 10
[Transmission]
Transmission:
401/1211
Chassis No:
Odometer:
84,000 miles
UMG 898
Reg Number:
RHD/LHD:
[RHD/LHD]
1952 Bristol 401 Sports Saloon
Registration Number: UMG 898
Chassis Number: Vin:401/1211
Recorded Mileage: 84,000 miles
- History file dating back to the 1970s
- In current family ownership since 2008
"It will sustain 80-90mph from dawn until the cows come home...built with all the painstaking care and thoroughness which have made the products of the City of Bristol famous throughout the world." - The Motor.
Very much a ‘connoisseur’s car’ with aircraft quality materials and construction, and discreet yet purposeful styling, Bristol's first model, the 400, was introduced after the close of WWII, based on tooling extracted from the BMW works in Eisenach after the war ended.
The 400 combined BMW’s best pre-war efforts, a BMW 326 chassis installed with the legendary 328 six cylinder engines, wearing an aluminium body from the 327.
The new 401 arrived in 1948, mechanically similar to the previous models other than an upgrade to triple Solex carburettors, increasing power to 85hp.
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Points of note
£2,968
Lowest Price (Since 2020)
£18,745
Median Price (Since 2020)
£46,125
Highest Price (Since 2020)
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Previous Sales
Gallery
MOT Information
Valid
Expires on Nov 04 2026
Latest MOT Mileage
83,986 miles
Registration Date
1952-11-11
MOT History
Passed
On Nov 05 2025 with 83,986 miles
Passed
On Apr 04 2023 with 83,830 miles
There was 1 defect noted.
Advisory:
- Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Failed
On Mar 23 2023 with 83,827 miles
There were 6 defects noted, with 1 deemed dangerous.
Major:
- Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))
- Nearside Rear Stop lamp(s) adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (4.3.3 (b))
- Offside Front Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))
- Offside Front Brakes imbalanced across an axle (1.2.1 (b) (i))
Advisory:
- Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Passed
On Mar 25 2022 with 83,300 miles
Failed
On Mar 24 2022 with 83,300 miles
There was 1 defect noted, with 1 deemed dangerous.
Passed
On Mar 16 2021 with 82,823 miles
There were 3 defects noted.
Advisory:
- Nearside Front Upper Suspension component ball joint has slight play and lower (5.3.4 (a) (i))
- Offside Front Upper Suspension component ball joint has slight play and lower (5.3.4 (a) (i))
- Front Prop shaft joint worn, but not excessively and rear u/j (6.1.7 (c) (i))
Failed
On Mar 08 2021 with 82,818 miles
There were 7 defects noted.
Major:
- Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))
- Front Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))
- Nearside Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle (1.2.1 (b) (i))
- Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))
Advisory:
- Nearside Front Upper Suspension component ball joint has slight play and lower (5.3.4 (a) (i))
- Offside Front Upper Suspension component ball joint has slight play and lower (5.3.4 (a) (i))
- Front Prop shaft joint worn, but not excessively and rear u/j (6.1.7 (c) (i))
Passed
On Feb 25 2020 with 82,079 miles
There were 3 defects noted.
Advisory:
- Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing all 4 (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
- Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play top (5.3.4 (a) (i))
- Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play bottom (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Failed
On Feb 24 2020 with 82,079 miles
There were 4 defects noted.
Major:
- Front Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))
Advisory:
- Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing all 4 (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
- Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play top (5.3.4 (a) (i))
- Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play bottom (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Passed
On Mar 05 2019 with 81,515 miles
There were 2 defects noted.
Advisory:
- nearside and offside front king pins slight lift
- Front Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.2.1 (b) (i))
Passed
On Feb 27 2018 with 80,648 miles
There was 1 defect noted.
Advisory:
- Offside Front tyre outter side wall has small cut in it just off limits
Passed
On Mar 02 2017 with 79,716 miles
Failed
On Mar 02 2017 with 79,716 miles
There were 2 defects noted.
Fail:
- Nearside Front Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on (8.2.1b)
- Offside Front Direction indicator not working and rear (1.4.A.2c)
Passed
On Mar 08 2016 with 78,431 miles
Failed
On Mar 07 2016 with 78,431 miles
There were 4 defects noted.
Fail:
- Offside Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)
- Offside Front Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)
- Offside Rear Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)
- Fuel system component leaking petrol pipe to back carb (7.2.3)
Passed
On Mar 03 2015 with 77,097 miles
Passed
On Mar 05 2014 with 75,645 miles
Failed
On Mar 04 2014 with 75,645 miles
There were 2 defects noted.
Fail:
- Nearside front brake binding (3.7.B.1)
- Offside front brake binding (3.7.B.1)
Passed
On Mar 21 2013 with 74,806 miles
Failed
On Mar 18 2013 with 74,806 miles
There were 3 defects noted.
Fail:
- Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)
- Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)
- Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)
Passed
On Mar 24 2012 with 73,558 miles
There were 2 defects noted.
User Entered:
- Oil leaks
- Slight damage to O/S/F tyre outer sidewall
Passed
On Mar 07 2011 with 71,602 miles
Failed
On Feb 22 2010 with 70,306 miles
There was 1 defect noted.
Pass after Rectification at Station:
- Centre Fuel pipe leaking (7.2.3)
Passed
On Feb 22 2010 with 70,306 miles
Passed
On Mar 05 2009 with 69,022 miles
Failed
On Mar 05 2009 with 69,022 miles
There were 2 defects noted.
Fail:
- Nearside front brake binding (3.7.B.1)
- Offside front brake binding (3.7.B.1)
Passed
On Mar 19 2008 with 67,636 miles
Failed
On Jan 23 2008 with 67,719 miles
There were 3 defects noted.
Fail:
- Nearside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)
- Nearside Front Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)
- Offside Rear Shock absorber insecure (2.7.2b)
Passed
On Jan 17 2007 with 66,037 miles
Passed
On Jan 06 2006 with 64,247 miles
MOT Mileage Trend
