All those nifty European sports cars brought back by servicemen and women after World War II impacted the American market profoundly. Though not officially imported by European brands, these sports cars captured the imagination of the car-driving public and, eventually, entrepreneurs who saw an opportunity. Our Pick of the Day is one of the most famous early attempts at an American sports car. This 1954 Arnolt-Bristol Deluxe Convertible is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in St. Louis.
Yes, we have the Nash-Healey among the first American sports cars, but craft builders (Woodill) and hybrids (Kurtis) were the first to hit the American sports car scene in the early 1950s. Among them was an industrialist (remember that word?) who happened to meet members of coachbuilding company Bertone at the 1952 Turin Auto Show. On display was a Bertone-bodied MG — Arnolt wanted to buy 200, one of four eventual creations between the two. All four vehicles would feature British engineering paired with Italian design. The most famous and successful of the quartet was built on a stripped-down Bristol 404 chassis and powered by a Bristol inline-six.
Bertone’s Franco Scaglione handled the design duties, creating an aerodynamic sports car with arched fenders that practically set the template for sports cars for decades to come. A prominent yet tasteful hood scoop cleared the engine’s trio of Solex carburetors. The scoop was Scaglione’s solution for the high engine, and the arched fenders created tension that made the car look lower — and racier. Three versions of the convertible were available: Competition roadster, Bolide roadster (a road/track racer at home on the race track and the street), and Deluxe convertible, the latter most agreeable for driving along Lake Shore Drive. A coupe — some with concealed headlamps — also joined the convertibles.
Production began in Filton, where Bristol had its factory. The chassis was sent to Italy to be fitted with a body by Bertone, with final assembly done at Arnolt’s facility in Warsaw, Indiana.
Interestingly, such was Arnolt-Bristol’s reputation in competition that several were exported to Europe.
This 1954 Arnolt-Bristol Deluxe Convertible is the top-trimmed version of the three open cars, a more comfortable sports car among the racers that also were produced. Though the original owner is not known, the earliest history of this Deluxe is sometime in the 1960s when Peoria, Illinois resident Hank Emory bought the Arnolt and used it on his postal route. Emory later moved to Oregon and, in the 1970s, Jim McQuay bought it, preserving the largely original car for around 30 years. The car was sold again in 2008, when a “sensible” restoration was started; it involved “meticulously stripping the car down and cataloging each component,” says the seller. “Parts were outsourced to Pacific Coast Powder Coating (a shop whose clientele include Singer Vehicle Design) for media blasting and refinishing. An Arnolt restoration expert performed minor metalwork repairs on the nose, while Concours Restoration in Valencia, California was tasked with final fitment and paint, ensuring every panel was correctly aligned and finished. Finally, the heart of the Arnolt, the Bristol six-cylinder, was rebuilt by the renowned Valley Head Service.”
Finished in black with a white racing stripe, this three-way hybrid is a fine example of how Americans with know-how but limited resources could create a racing legend that was desired around the world. For $275,000, you can park this troika in your garage.
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