Bristol Cars Approved
1963 Bristol 408 — Chassis Number One
£99,000
Offered for sale through SLJ Hackett. Price as advertised by SLJ Hackett in pounds sterling.
Particulars
- Year
- 1963
- Model
- 408
- Colour
- Gunmetal / Silver Grey
- Asking price
- £99,000
- SLJ Hackett reference
- 408 UHU
A previously owned Bristol, sold by SLJ Hackett on its own description and terms. Not part of the final-series Fighter programme.
The car, as described by SLJ Hackett
The first Bristol 408 built, chassis 408-7001, and the car used by Tony Crook as his daily transport. Retained by Bristol Cars for its first two and a half years, it also served as the factory press and development car.
408 UHU appeared in the original Bristol sales brochure and was featured in The Motor, Autocar, Cars Illustrated and the 1964 World Car Catalogue. It is one of just 86 examples produced.
Restored by Justin Hills, the aluminium bodywork has been returned to its original Gunmetal finish with a Silver Grey roof. The interior is trimmed in red leather with walnut dashboard and door cappings. The original radio and distinctive push-button automatic controls remain.
Hills’s other work includes the Dodge that won the World’s Most Beautiful Custom award at Sacramento Autorama in 2013, and a Jaguar awarded the Spirit Award at Salon Privé in 2019.
Power comes from a Chrysler V8 coupled to a three-speed Torqueflite automatic gearbox. With comfortable seating for four and ample luggage space, the 408 was built for long-distance touring.
The car comes with a substantial history file, including Bristol service record cards from 1963–1966, a copy of the original sales brochure, period magazines and extensive later paperwork. Also included is James Nicholls’s book Bristol 408, published by Amberley in 2023, which records the car’s history.
A rare opportunity to buy the first 408, with its original registration and a documented connection to Tony Crook and the Bristol factory.
Odometer: 77,653 miles indicated; not warranted.
£99,000
SLJ Hackett, Official Heritage Partner of Bristol Cars Approved by Bristol Cars Group Ltd © 2026 Bristol Cars Group Ltd. All rights reserved.
Please contact Richard at SLJ Hackett for further details or to arrange a viewing.
Photography · SLJ Hackett
The model family
Bristol 407. The V8 era begins.
The Bristol 408 is covered on the Bristol 407 page, together with the other models of the same family.
With the 407 Bristol doubled its engine capacity, adopting a Chrysler V8 and automatic transmission in a hand-built aluminium sports saloon that was among the fastest of its day.
Read about the Bristol 407 family
Enquire
About this Bristol 408 — Chassis Number One.
Your enquiry goes to the Bristol Cars Group Ltd office with this car’s reference and SLJ Hackett’s listing attached, and is passed to the right person at SLJ Hackett. Or telephone SLJ Hackett on 01985 219551.