The 1950s was a magical period for the development of the sports car. Regulations were few, and a post-World War II economic boom opened many possibilities. Britain led the charge with volume exports and was closely followed by Germany and Italy, but there was also no shortage of American ingenuity, which set about making homegrown sporting machines. One such carmaker-to-be was Stanley Harold “Wacky” Arnolt.

Like many Americans, Arnolt bought an MG TC after the war, and as he was impressed with it, he subsequently set up a car dealership and import company in downtown Chicago, where one could buy any of several British marques, including MG, Morris, Aston Martin, Rolls-Royce, and even Bristol. However, Arnolt’s ambition exceeded merely selling other makers’ cars.

On a business trip to the Turin Auto Show in 1952, Arnolt met Nuccio Bertone at a time when the Italian coachbuilder was near bankruptcy, which could have easily ended the auto designer’s business. Arnolt was impressed with the two MG TD-based cars that Bertone had bodied and he reversed Bertone’s fortunes when he placed an order for 200 like them. These cars subsequently became known as the Arnolt MG.

However, before Bertone could complete the contracted cars, MG discontinued the TD upon which it was based, and only about half of the planned quantity was ever made. Arnolt then began looking for a replacement chassis, eventually settling on the Bristol 404 series chassis and its 130-brake horsepower, 1,971-cubic centimeter six-cylinder engine. Arnolt purchased complete driving-chassis Bristols that were then delivered to Bertone’s Turin factory. There, they received a body that was the design masterpiece of Franco Scaglione, who would go on to design the wild, aerodynamic B.A.T. show cars.

The tall engine and carburetors of the Bristol 404 made it difficult to give the car the desired low-slung look, but Scaglione managed to disguise the height of the engine by giving the car a raised hood scoop, swooping front fenders that curved into a grille area, and closely set headlights that flanked a small grille. It was introduced to the public at the London Motor Show in the fall of 1953, and the first Arnolt-Bristols arrived in the U.S.A. early in 1954.

Arnolt sought to underscore the car’s sporting prowess by personally racing one to a class win at Watkins Glen, and he followed that with entering three examples in the 1955 Sebring 12-hour race, where they finished 1st, 2nd, and 4th in class, to win the team trophy. Arnolt-Bristols went on to further class wins at Sebring the following year and again in 1960. Privately owned Arnolt-Bristols also dominated the SCCA E-Production classes for many years and collected innumerable trophies along the way. They are now fully VSCCA-eligible for vintage events, and some are still actively raced.

The Arnolt-Bristol combined a British chassis and running gear with Italian styling and construction and American money and sales, making it more expensive than the Corvette. Ultimately, production ended in 1959, after only 142 cars were built.

Although the Arnolt-Bristol DeLuxe Roadster offered here was delivered to its first private owner and titled in 1959, its story began much earlier. The original test of its standard BMW-derived 328, 1.9-liter six-cylinder engine was completed on July 23, 1954, at the Bristol factory in England. Its bodywork was completed by Bertone in Turin on January 25, 1957, and the completed car, one of the last twenty produced, was subsequently loaded onto the SS Calista, which was destined for Chicago. It was originally finished in silver, with a navy interior and black top. Interestingly enough, Wacky Arnolt is reported to have personally driven this car for several months prior to selling it to its first owner, Doug Buchannan of Nebraska, in 1959. Buchannan was also reportedly the last customer to receive a car with one of only five sets of Borrani knock-off wheels that Arnolt had custom made for his racing team. Of the five cars that received these wheels, it is believed that only three survive today.

After nearly 10 years of ownership, Buchannan decided to refinish the car in a dark red metallic paint and have the interior reupholstered in black in 1968. Following nearly 30 enjoyable years of having the Roadster in his collection, Buchannan sold it to noted collector Gene Ponder in the 1990s. Ponder painted the car in its current shade of red and upholstered the interior in red/black with a tan top and tonneau. This Arnolt-Bristol has since participated on the Colorado Grand, the California Mille, and the Pebble Beach Motoring Classic, and it has been shown multiple times, including at The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering and various concours. Its vintage rally pedigree obviously appealed to Don Mann, and he purchased the car on his last trip to Monterey in August 2014.

Just prior to Mr. Mann’s acquisition, the Arnolt-Bristol had been under the mechanical care of DL George Coachworks in Pennsylvania. During this time, the unique gear-operated top was refurbished, as were the brakes, to ensure dependable touring. Additionally, they completed a significant mechanical service of the car prior to its last tour, which amounted to approximately $115,000. The rare Borrani wheels were also fitted with new Dunlop tires. Included with the car are numerous spare parts, including a Bristol 2.2-liter (406) engine, a correct and complete gearbox, and a correct overdrive unit (not currently installed), as well as books, brochures, and a history file.

The Arnolt-Bristol is a rare and striking performance car that is enthusiastically welcomed in virtually any vintage event, but more than that, it is a historic artifact that recalls a time when the possibilities were wide open, a vision could be made tangible, and talented and inspired men were brought together to create something beautiful and thrilling that transcended their generation.

This magnificent automobile is a window into a magical era, and it is one that can provide enjoyment and inspiration to any who see it or are lucky enough to drive it.