To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' The
Elkhart Collection event, 23 - 24 October 2020.
Estimate:
$325,000 - $375,000
- A model famous in its day in SCCA competition
- High-quality restoration in striking colors
- Equipped with its original engine
- Featured in the master list of surviving examples
- Eligible for such touring events as the Colorado Grand and
Mille Miglia
- Ideal for showing and driving enjoyment
Chicago-based foreign car importer S. H. "Wacky" Arnolt found a
ready market for the "Arnolt-MGs" custom-bodied for him by Italian
coachbuilder Bertone in the early 1950s. Inspired by that success,
he approached Bristol, which had begun diversifying from aircraft
to limited-production, high-performance grand touring cars. The
Bristol, Arnolt felt, was a perfect basis for a sports car, as its
engine was the pre-war BMW 328 design, highly proven and well-known
within racing circles.
Arnolt struck an arrangement to marry a box-section chassis with
the two-liter, Hemi-head Bristol BS1 MKII 130 bhp engine,
transverse-leaf front suspension, and live rear axle with
curvaceous Bertone coachwork. The car weighed only 1,800 pounds and
returned excellent performance: 0-60 mph in 8.7 seconds and a top
speed of 110 mph, as well as near perfect weight distribution for
decent road manners for both road and track. It proved its mettle
in the SCCA Modified Championship in 1954, 1955, and 1956, as well
as in the 12 Hours of Sebring. Just 142 of the cars were produced
over seven years, of which 130 were sold; another dozen were lost
in a warehouse fire.
The Arnolt-Bristol offered here was acquired for the current
collection in 2011. Its restoration is beautiful and well
preserved, with deep silver paint contrasting a dark grey leather
interior, complete with carpets and a black-finished dashboard.
Notably for this oft-raced automobile, it retains its original MKII
engine under the hood, fitted with triple Weber 34 ICH carburetors
and its original numbering plates; the original serial-number plate
and stamp are also present on the chassis. The car is in beautiful
overall condition, with properly fitted panels and gorgeous paint,
but has also been maintained to enjoy on the road and accordingly
has a clear bra fitted over the nose. At the time of cataloguing,
it had recorded 5,843 miles.
This is a lovely Arnolt-Bristol that will be a hit on either the
concours field, vintage rally, or track-day paddock.To view this
car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit
the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/el20.
