1948' HRG Bristol Prototype

1948 HRG BRISTOL PROTOTYPE

HISTORIC 2-LITRE SPORTS RACING CAR

Chassis No: WB 50

Engine No: 400/75 No: 1065

Estimate: AU$95,000 - $125,000 (£58,500 - £76,000 approx.)

http://www.mossgreen.com.au/view-auctions/catalog/id/280/lot/114306/1948-HRG-BRISTOL-PROTOTYPE

This exceptional and rare Bristol powered HRG prototype was an experimental chassis apparently built in 1948/49 specifically for the 2-litre engine. It has the 3.75:1 axle ratio of HRG’s Le Mans contenders. HRG believed they had a winning design but despite recognising the potential of the engine, decided not to complete this Bristol engine car. This very same experimental chassis WB50 eventually found its way to a farm shed in NSW where it rested for 40 years.

The chassis has been well written about over the years for its historical significance. Courtesy of Motorsport Archive: “A Bristol engined prototype chassis was built, the rear semielliptical springs being cantilevered in the Rolls-Royce fashion so they effectively became quarter-elliptics, but the company felt that too many others were going the Bristol route and so decided against further development, the car never even being bodied by the works. It is now in Australia.”

Comprehensive records show that ‘WB50’ (W for wide and B for experimental) was one of two experimental prototype chassis, the other being for a Maserati engine. During its development, a motor was borrowed from Bristol and installed to enable photographs to be taken but the decision was made not to proceed with the car as there were so many Bristol powered cars being developed successfully at the time. HRGs company secretary later remarked, ”There were far too many people going down the same route and there wasn’t room for everyone”. The chassis and axles, springs, brakes and some front suspension parts were subsequently sold to an Australian grazier named Allen Gray in about the mid 1950’s as the factory ceased production in 1955. He later sold these items to Mr. Ted Lobb of Grenfell, NSW, where it lay dormant until it was purchased by Mr Lewis Luxton in November, 1998. Luxton bought the chassis with a few suspension spares, but no engine.

The engine that now powers this interesting prototype was bought from a doyen of Australian historic motorsport, Mr Graham Lowe and it was built by Colin Young. The body was fabricated by Bill Peach of West Preston in Melbourne. The body is described as transitional, a combination of the square rigger of the 1930’s and the all-enveloping bodies typical in the 1950’s. The body has no doors with hatched boot and bonnet panels. The car can utilise a tonneau cover but it was never intended or possible to fit a hood. According to a Mr. Greg Laming, who had been a body builder at Head Bros of Melbourne, this body is remarkably similar to the Woodside HRG racing car bodies built by Head Bros for some of the HRG chassis imported by Brown and Dureau around 1949, including the car of Tony Gaze.

The HRG Association are unclear as to this car’s date of inception or exactly when the factory started building it. Only 2 photographs of the rolling chassis remain as evidence. Responsible for the general engineering and assembly of the car Mr Rod Warriner chose 1948 as the year of registration to avoid technical problems with headlight heights etc. The car was completed in 2005 with engine number 400/75/1065 and 4-speed manual gearbox as rebuilt by Colin Young. It contains quality parts and fittings and features its original Alfin 11” brake drums. Accompanying the sale is an extensive file of information covering the restoration with the BOCA archival entry; a set of 5 wheels; 3 leaf suspension springs; 3 brake drums and a spare windscreen and tonneau cover.

The car and its ownership history is thoroughly recorded with the Bristol Owners Club of Australia including the synopsis from the Bristol archives. Resplendent in Honda Blue with blue leather upholstery and quality carpet this highly collectable Bristol powered HRG presents an opportunity to acquire a unique prototype chassis being only 1 of 2 produced by the factory together with a fascinating Australian provenance.


This vehicle is being offered for sale on the 30th April 2017 at our Melbourne showroom. The auction features many highlights on two wheels and four including:

1959 ISO MILANO SCOOTER
1958 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C1 ROADSTER
1936 MG TA MIDGET
1925 AMILCAR TYPE G SPORTS
1967 LOTUS ELAN PLUS TWO
1932 VELOCETTE KTT 350 Mk IV
1953 AJS 7R
1930/31 AJS R7
1918 INDIAN POWERPLUS 61CI MODEL N
1965 MERCEDES-BENZ 220SE COUPE
1956 JAGUAR D-TYPE RECREATION
1948 HRG BRISTOL PROTOTYPE
1921 ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER GHOST TOURER
1967 MERCEDES-BENZ 250SE COUPE
1970 FORD FALCON XW GT SEDAN
1951 FORD DELUXE COUPE UTILITY
1965 VELOCETTE VENOM 500CC CLUBMAN MK1
1955 TRIUMPH SPEED TWIN 5T
1967 BSA SPITFIRE MK. III SPECIAL
1959 CHEVROLET EL CAMINO
1997 FERRARI 355 SPIDER
2003 BMW M3 COUPE E46