Bristol 403 Restoration

Bristol 403 Restoration 2006-2023 (Greg Mead)
Body No: 403/1/882
Engine No: 100A/3176
Chassis No: 403/1483
Manufactured 1954.
Original Colour: Bristol Green. Interior: Cream/ brown trim
Vehicle History: Despatched through Tozer Kemsley & Millbourne to John Crouch Motors P/L on 7/4/1954. The original owner was John Dowling In Lynham ACT who Sold it in 1961 to Frank Jost, a political reporter for the Daily Mirror in Canberra. Frank had a significant crash with a Meat Truck in 1975 and it sat in his front garden awaiting the wrecker while he recovered in hospital.
It was then bought by Club Registrar, Bill Russell, who made attempts to repair it. These were abandoned & Bill sold the remains to Les Payne in 1988. He passed it to Robert Hill in Bulga in 1996 & I bought it from him September 2006. Since its crash various 403 unique parts had been removed including the Brake actuation mechanism & the Alfin Drums, for use on other cars.
The general condition was appalling with no front body (but including several sets of front panels). Much of the from subframe was rusted out non original replacements. By some miracle it was still a matching numbers car and some attempt had been made to renovate the Engine. I would never start on it now but at that stage I was freshly retired and keen on a challenge that would teach me about cars.
A lot of Welding was done by a visiting welder/enthusiast. This included the front Frames and side chassis components, rear floors as well as the extremely rusted doors. I prepared the metal and in half day sessions we got the basics back together, taking about a year.
In parallel I gathered some additional body panels including left hand ducting for the heater system that runs under the front guards (It has 2 right ones), as well as the rear sections of the front guards all of which were missing. These came from a nose “Plug” that I bought from Ivan Glasby.
I found an alloy wheel repairer who claimed to have cut and shut two Honda NSX all alloy sports cars in a past life. He was the best I could find & he reassembled the body work over about a week and was not especially expensive and apparently did a good job. I then trailered the completed welded body structure to Villawood and had it professionally bead blasted.
Next the engine, and with the help of Geoff Dowdle's Tradesman’s & Parts lists, managed to get the necessary machining done and bearings purchased. A set of Pistons was bought from club member John May. Geoff Helped assemble the head which had been dismantled down to every washer. Geoff gave critical support & knowledge throughout the project.
After 12 month break (due to an illness in the family), I took the 403 to O&S Restorations in nearby Cromer in Sydney, with a focus on the bodywork only. They had the car for 18 months & did an excellent job finishing the detailed body repair & painting the car. They didn't address any mechanical issues (engine, gearbox, radiator, brakes) which became significant later.
I got the car home from O&S & started on the lining of the car’s interior with the collection of alloy panels that bridge the gaps in the chassis as well as the firewall.
Being Magazine Editor gave me a view of what else was going on in the club & I managed to purchase from Sebastian Gross a headlining made up while working on one for another client's 401.
Next, the push to get the project completed. Sebastian Gross was the obvious choice, and I booked a slot for November 2022. With a completed Gearbox, a re-leathered interior & headlining, sundry tasks such as the interior panel work including paint, was completed. Bas collected the components and I delivered the interior & headlining. Sebastian worked quickly & was able to adapt to unexpected problems.
Then came the fitting of the engine, made more complex by having the engine mounts bent in the original crash. The engine mount rubbers were different heights, which didn't help. Fortunately the unopened gearbox had been preserved and worked immediately. At second or third attempt the engine fired up & showed reliable temperature and pressure following a Radiator header tank repair.
Next, the installation of the trimmed seats & headlining. The door trims proved to be difficult because of attempts to replicate the original structure using multiple layers of plywood. The headlining is never easy in an Aerodyne. Finally after grappling with the door trims the car was finished, road tested & had the front wheels aligned. It was then registered.
I picked it up in September 2023 & drove home in time for an oil change and departure for the Griffith Wedgie in October 2023. On this initial run it performed admirably & reliably. I am very gratified to have got this major Restoration done & it is no longer spread throughout my house!
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