1959 Bristol 402 Drophead Coupe
The soft-top body employed Carrozzeria Touring’s Superleggera construction, using aluminum panels over a lightweight tubular steel framework. The shape was developed with extensive wind-tunnel testing, reflecting Bristol’s aircraft-industry roots and emphasis on aerodynamic efficiency.
Two of the first examples went to actor Stewart Granger (NPF 1) and actress Jean Simmons (NPF 2) for publicity connected to their film Adam and Evelyne. Racing driver and Bristol distributor Tony Crook handled the sale and later fitted a more powerful Frazer Nash-BMW engine to NPF 2.
Power came from a BMW-derived 122-cubic-inch (2.0-liter) inline-six featuring pushrod-operated inclined valves and triple carburetors, producing about 85 horsepower. The engine drove through a four-speed manual gearbox with a first-gear freewheel, a feature carried over from prewar BMW practice.
Aircraft-style construction standards contributed to the £2,270 price tag, roughly on par with an Aston Martin DB2. Despite its advanced engineering, refined road manners, and aerodynamic bodywork, the high cost ensured extremely limited sales.
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