1949 Bristol 402 Cabriolet
Bristol Aeroplane Company’s transition from aircraft manufacturing to luxury automobiles produced one of Britain’s most exclusive convertibles. The 402 Cabriolet, introduced in 1949 as the open-top version of the 401 saloon (introduced the year prior), represented just 26 examples built during its brief production run.
Carrozzeria Touring’s Superleggera construction method formed the foundation of the 402’s sophisticated design. Aluminum body panels were fitted over a lightweight tubular steel framework, while the aerodynamic shape was refined through wind tunnel testing at Bristol’s aircraft facilities.
Power came from a BMW-derived 2.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine featuring a pushrod-operated valve arrangement with inclined valves. A four-speed manual transmission with first-gear freewheel handled power delivery.
Aircraft industry construction standards elevated the 402 far above typical British sports cars of the era, but this quality came at a premium price comparable to an Aston Martin DB2. Today, fewer than half of the original 26 examples are known to survive, making the 402 Cabriolet among the rarest British convertibles ever produced.
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