Following the success achieved with the Bertone-bodied MG TDs, in 1953 Stanley H. Arnolt, the American importer of several British marques, asked Bertone to design a light body, suitable both on track and road, for the more powerful 2-liter Bristol 404 chassis. Designed by Franco Scaglione, the new roadster created a great sensation at the London Motor Show in October 1953 and at the New York Motor Show in February 1954; both the Competition (aka Bolide) and DeLuxe versions sold well, also thanks to their racing successes.

However, the Arnolt-Bristol packed more power than the 404, carrying a tuned version of Bristol’s Type BS1 sports-racing engine, a six-cylinder unit that harked back to the prewar BMW 328. Output was 130 horsepower (Bristol touring-car engines were usually rated at 105 bhp in this period). Gearbox and brakes came from Bristol’s earlier 403 coupe-sedan.

Only 142 Arnolt Bristols were built: 85 Competion roadsters, 54 DeLuxe roadsters, 3 DeLuxe coupés.

There were very few different details between the Bolide and DeLuxe roadsters, the latter being fitted with also the hood, bumpers and side screens.

This chassis has been assembled in Italy on a Bristol chassis produced in March 1954, then sent to Arnolt Inc. in Chicago. It was for many years thought to have fallen foul of the Chicago fire which claimed a number of the cars, until it surfaced in the late 1970s. This car was raced in the SCCA series in Texas.