Early 400 and 401 Sports and International Rally successes

400 chassis 515

Pictured right Bristol 2 litre type 400 saloon, Monte Carlo Rally entry of Paul Lalisse and Andre Delerne, ready to depart from Blythswood Square, outside the Scottish Royal Automobile Club headquarters in Glasgow, Ca. 1956. It is reported these two also took part in the 1955 Monte Carlo Rally as entry number 81. Their results not known by your scribe. Photo kindly provided by club member WK Henderson of Falkirk.

YearCarEventDriver(s)Result
1948 400 Polish International Rally Dobry &Treybal 1st and outright winner
400 Course de côte de la SarteBelgian driver 1st in class
400 Monte Carlo Rally Dobry & Treybal 1st in class, 3rd overall
400 Montlhéry Dobry & Treybal 92mph average for 100 km
1949 400 Targa Florio, Sicily? 2nd in over 1.1 litres class and overall winner in touring class
400 Mille Miglia, Brescia, Italy Aldington & Lurani 3rd in Touring Class
400 Como-Lario Hill Climb ? 1st in class and 2nd overall
400s Alpine Rally ? 4th and 5th in 2 litre class and 6th overall
400 Stella Alpina Hill Climb ? 1st in over 1.5 litres class and 1st in Touring cars class
401 Montlhéry Crook 104.78 miles in 1 hour
1950401 Coast to Coast trial, CanadaLawson 73 hours accumulated running time from Atlantic coast to Pacific coast or vice versa?
1951401 RAC Rally Paul Buckley 3rd and 4th in large saloon class
1952401 Tulip Rally Sleigh and Porter 1st in Class
1953 401 Tulip Rally Banks and Porter 2nd overall
401 Cannes Rallye Soleil Drewett & Hammond 1st in Touring car class

This list is a starting point. I am sure that we can fill this and many more pages. All that is needed is for those of you who have the relevant information to share it for a permanent archive which then can be handed on to be an accurate reference for all members. So if you have come across reports of success in major or international events not listed here, or indeed can improve on the information listed here, e.g, identify the car and or occupants, please let the club registrar know. The club intends to use this information in connection with display stands at NEC Classic Car show and other similar events with a sporting theme.