1954 Arnolt De Luxe

Chassis 404X/3029

• Documented by surviving Bristol and Arnolt factory records
• Originally delivered in Corsa Red with grey leather upholstery
• Extensive recorded ownership history dating back to its 1955 sale through Rootes Motors
• Striking Bertone roadster coachwork with desirable Deluxe specification

The Arnolt-Bristol remains one of the most charismatic Anglo-Italian sports cars of the 1950s. Conceived by Chicago industrialist and automobile importer Stanley H. Wacky Arnolt, the cars combined Bristol engineering with dramatic Bertone coachwork styled by Franco Scaglione. The result was a low, purposeful roadster that paired distinctive Italian design with the sophisticated chassis and six-cylinder performance for which Bristol had already earned an enviable reputation.

Built in limited numbers and offered in several specifications, the Arnolt-Bristol quickly established itself as a serious sports car both on the road and in competition. Its combination of light weight, excellent balance, and Bristols refined 2-liter inline-six made it particularly effective in endurance racing, while the hand-built Bertone body gave it an unmistakable presence that remains every bit as striking today.

This 1954 Arnolt-Bristol Deluxe Roadster, chassis 404X/3029, is particularly well documented through surviving records from both the Bristol Aeroplane Company and Arnolt. Bristol records identify engine BS1/MkII 234, which was dyno tested by the Car Division of the Bristol Aeroplane Company at Filton on February 15, 1952.

Arnolts Record of Arrival, Stock & Disposal further documents chassis 404X/3029 with engine 234. The car was shipped aboard the Joliette in May 1954 and arrived in the United States on July 13 of that year. Listed as model AB-BR/58 30/L, it was originally finished in Corsa Red with grey leather upholstery and supplied with standard steel wheels.

The Arnolt was sold through Rootes Motors on Long Island, New York, which delivered it on February 28, 1955 under invoice 1917 to its first owner, Myron T. Ibbotson of Utica, New York. From there, surviving Arnolt-Bristol registry information records a lengthy succession of owners, including Harry Mason, Carpenter & Mayforth, Fred Grover, Al Chamberlain, Ernie Lackad, Richard S. Don Osgood, Amos Roleau, Dave Dubrul, Tom Trotman, Scott Stewart, and Harold Allen.

As offered, chassis 3029 is a stunning example of the type, finished in red with a contrasting central black stripe over a red leather interior, giving the already dramatic Bertone coachwork an especially sporting appearance. The paintwork presents exceptionally well, with the crisp appearance of a recently restored car, while the interior is similarly fresh and taut, remaining both inviting and comfortable. Likewise the tan convertible top and matching side curtains are in similar condition, but remain usable at a moments notice.

Fortunately, this Arnolt strikes just the right chord, combining excellent cosmetic presentation with equally impressive mechanical fitness. Benefiting from stylish Borrani wheels, overdrive and an aluminum radiator, it is exceptionally well suited to concours, rallies, and spirited road use alike.

The combination of Scagliones distinctive styling, Bristol engineering, and Arnolts wonderfully unconventional vision make these cars among the most memorable limited-production sports cars of the period. With its extensive factory documentation, recorded ownership history, and stellar presentation, this Arnolt-Bristol Deluxe Roadster offers an excellent opportunity to enjoy one of the great transatlantic collaborations of the 1950s.

Offers welcome and trades considered.