This is an absolute showstopper of a car! Built in the same factory as the incomparable Concorde aeroplane, and styled by former aircraft engineers, ‘WWE 88’ is one of just 43 Bristol 405 Drophead Coupés ever built. According to howmanyleft.co.uk, this glamorous four-seater tourer has the further distinction of being one of only 16 Bristol 405 models (saloon or drophead coupé) currently registered for UK roads, making this a very rare motor car indeed. Once a part of the collection of Brian May, a famous Bristol collector, the car has had just five owners from new, with the fourth owning it for some 20 years and choosing to replace every wooden element of the vehicle, including windscreen surround and even the boot frame, towards the end of their period of ownership. Over the past two years, the current owner has treated this magnificent machine to a first-class, bare-metal restoration, and the result is what they describe as ‘arguably a show-winner’.
Delivered new painted in Cooper Beech, the car has recently been repainted in elegant Heather grey by Merlin Classics, who also worked on the bodywork. Retro Wiring installed a new wiring loom, while Bespoke Car Trim of Cheshire entirely retrimmed the interior in Claret red leather and gave the car a new hood. The restoration also included a full, no-expense-spared engine rebuild with Cosworth pistons and new valves – retaining the original block, which was rebored – by Bristol specialists IN Racing and a final service and engine tune by Nigel Grant Racing. The work also included a new stainless-steel exhaust and the rechroming of bumpers and overriders. The odometer reads a modest 27,826 which, while not warranted, would appear to be credible for such a cherished motor car. Not surprisingly the vendor rates every aspect of the car – the 1971cc six-cylinder engine, the four-speed manual transmission with Overdrive, electrics, bodywork, paintwork and interior as ‘excellent’.
The history file includes the original Bristol 405 instruction manual and a copy of the Advice of Despatch note from Bristol Cars Ltd in 1956, with details of the original owner and car even comes with the full, correct period toolkit. All invoices from the restoration have been retained and will accompany the car, which carries an MOT to 13 June 2025.
Introduced in 1954, the Bristol 405 was the company’s only ever four-door offering. Effectively a long-wheelbase version of the outgoing 404, it was also the first of the marque to feature an opening bootlid. The newcomer was powered by the 100 B2 version of the company’s much-vaunted 1,971cc OHV straight-six engine. It developed some 110bhp and drove through a four–speed manual gearbox equipped with a Laycock de Normanville overdrive. Suspension was independent at the front by transverse leaf spring and by solid axle and torsion bars at the rear. Braking was by drums all round (front discs were optional) and steering by rack and pinion. Total 405 production comprised 265 saloons and 43 drophead coupés, with the latter receiving bodywork from coachbuilders E.D. Abbot of Farnham. The model was replaced by the 406 in 1958.
‘WWE 88’ goes under the Hampson hammer at our Oulton Park Gold Cup sale on Sunday 28 July.
Estimate: £160,000-£180,000
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