Stanley H. "Wacky" Arnolt was a Chicago industrialist, who began importing foreign cars in the 1950s to the United States. Though sold as American cars, the cars were true hybrids, with British mechanicals, Italian bodywork, and U.S. sales and distribution, as well as in some cases final assembly and body work. S.H. Arnolt Inc. was a licensed automobile manufacturer in the State of Illinois.

A fortuitous meeting with Bertone at the Turin Auto Show in 1952 resulted in four collaborative efforts between Arnolt and Bertone, involving running gear and engines from the British car manufacturers MG, Aston Martin, Bentley, and Bristol.

The final model-the Arnolt Bristol Arnolt came about after Arnolt negotiated with Bristol Cars Ltd in the UK for the purchase of 200 of their 404-series chassis and the 1971 cc, six-cylinder 130 hp engines from the earlier 403 model. Arnolt needed to find a new chassis source to meet his obligation to Bertone, in whom he had invested heavily, after MG proved unable to fill the original order for 200 cars. The chassis Bristol supplied were sent to Carrozzeria Bertone where they received a highly aerodynamic body with a flowing design that allowed the minimal hood height to clear the cars' three single barrel Solex 32 carburetors. The bodies were designed by Bertone's new designer/aerodynamicist, Franco Scaglione (soon to be famous as the designer of the Alfa Romeo B.A.T. concept cars). The very tall Bristol engine created problems for designing a sleek-looking sports car. Franco Scaglione handled these with particular genius - first by incorporating a hood scoop to lower the surrounding sheet metal, and then by incorporating sharply creased fender lines out over the wheels to draw the eye's attention away from the unusually tall peak in the hood. A few design changes were requested by S.H. Arnolt.

Arnolt created a racing team for the Sebring 12-hour race, and in 1955, at their first attempt, the special lightweight cars finished first, second and fourth in the Sports 2000 class, winning the Team Trophy, a feat which was replicated in 1956 and 1960. The following year they took second and third in class. In 1957 the team withdrew after Bob Goldich's fatal accident on the first lap of his first stint in the car co-driven by Wacky Arnolt, while a privately entered Arnolt Bristol finished fifth in class.1960 brought a final class win, finishing 1st, 2nd and 3rd in class, and placing 14th, 22d and 39th overall.

The cars were available in four body styles: competition-a stripped road racer; bolide-a slightly better-appointed road racer; deluxe-a better-appointed version of the bolide (side windows and convertible top, instruments mounted in a housing in front of the driver, glove box set in the dash); and coup, with pop-up headlights. At least one open car was subsequently fitted with a removable hardtop by S.H. Arnolt. Prices as per a 1956 factory letter were $3995 for the competition model, $4245 for the bolide, $4995 for the deluxe and $5995 for the coup.

Factory options for the Arnolt-Bristol included a front sway bar, remote shifter, 11-inch Alfin drum brakes, convertible top, bumpers, Borrani KO steel wheels (nine sets were sold, and one car was sold with Borrani wire wheels) and several different rear end gear ratios. A special racing fuel tank was installed in some of the race cars but was never offered for sale to the public. Late in 1959 and 60, the 12-inch bell-shaped Bristol drum setup was offered, and in 1961 Bristol front disc brakes were offered to retro fit to the Arnolt-Bristol. The majority of the cars had steel bodies, with aluminum trunk and hood.

The cars came with an owner's manual, spares manual and shop workbook, as well as a spare wheel and tire and complete tool kit. Additional items such as Arnolt key fobs, neck ties, ice buckets and Arnolt logo head scarves were available from the company. A wide variety of promotional literature, including brochures and postcards, was also produced.

All of the cars were originally sold with Bristol BS1 MkII six-cylinder engines; some have subsequently been fitted with other engines.

All Arnolt-Bristols were built between January 14, 1953, and December 12, 1959. The majority were built in 1954 and 1959. A total of 142 cars were produced, of which 12 were written off after a factory fire. The fire-damaged cars were used as a source of spares by Arnolt in later years. The total production included six coups, and two aluminum alloy-bodied cars. One of the cars was originally right hand drive: the rest were all left hand drive. One of the cars never received a body, and was used as a rolling chassis for auto shows. This chassis is still in the possession of the Arnolt family.

Approximately 85 of the cars are still known to be extant, in conditions that vary from needing complete restoration to concours quality.

This example has an interesting history for several key reasons, including being used as the factory "back up" race car on a very publicly oriented race circuit tour - it is unknown if the car was ever raced - but it attended the races and was at that time painted British Racing Green with a Beige Interior. Delivered to Arnolt in August 1954, the car was retained by Arnolt to be sold "as new" in October 1959, to Arthur Lancett of Continental Motors in Reading (Cincinnati), OH "in the white" after being prepared for a repaint at dealer request for customer purchase. The car was delivered in paint ready primer with trim pieces and other bits removed and included in "kits" such as "chrome kit", "emblem kit", "weather kit", "accessories kit" and the like.

Mr. Lancett did his best to try to sell the car taking it to various race events in the Midwest and East Coast, but was ultimately unsuccessful. The car languished in the back of his showroom for years and was eventually moved to the back room for decades long storage. In one of those rare upon rare conversations, the car was discovered by a local collector that orchestrated its purchase in 1997. This automobile was recognized for being in outstanding condition as one of the best surviving Arnolt-Bristol cars in existence.

Dr. Theodore "Ted" Bernstein was the ultimate purchaser of this "new" Arnolt Bristol Bolide - and in the early 2000's, Ted embarked on a complete ground up restoration to Concours quality standards, as well as with consideration for vintage racing (for example: the automobile is fitted with a modern fuel cell, and the car has a bolt in Roll Cage-not installed-but with the car). All "kits" were still with the car and in outstanding condition (rare for any sports car of the period). Ted felt the key benefit of the car was its exceptional low mileage and knew with a comprehensive mechanical and drivetrain restoration he would have the best of the best examples of an Arnolt-Bristol. The restoration took several years given an emphasis on quality and with nothing overlooked or nothing considered second quality. The Engine was rebuilt to Race Spec by noted Race Engine Builder Jerry Mong of Medina, OH.

Since Restoration, the automobile has been shown sparingly, but never raced. This automobile has been properly cared for over time and recommissioned for this sale including the Carburators, Fuel Pump and Brake system being rebuilt. The car and runs and drives very well. No flaws were noted anywhere on the automobile. This is a spectacular example that presents as a freshly restored automobile in every respect.