BRISTOL · BRISTOL 406 · Cars
BRISTOL 406 Ultra-rare
As of 2025 Q4, 8 BRISTOL 406s remain registered in the UK — one of the rarest cars in Britain on today's roads. Numbers are at their highest recorded level since the model first appeared in our data in 2014 Q3. Numbers have held broadly steady over recent years rather than falling away — often the mark of a model that owners deliberately preserve. In all, the BRISTOL 406 is rarer than 80% of the 2,408 UK car models we track, putting it firmly in 2025's endangered class.
Survivors over time
How rare is it?
Genuinely rare — only 8 left on UK roads.
Rarer than 80% of the 2,408 UK car models we track.
Trend
About the 406
The Bristol 406 is a luxury car produced between 1958 and 1961 by British manufacturer Bristol Aeroplane Co. Bristol Aeroplane's car division later became Bristol Cars. It was the last Bristol to use the BMW-derived pushrod straight six engine that had powered all cars built by the company up to that point. In a stopgap measure for the 406 its torque was improved by a 245 cc increase in capacity because it was clearly unable to give a performance comparable to that of newer engines emerging at the time.
BRISTOL 406 — questions & answers
How many BRISTOL 406 are left in the UK?
As of 2025 Q4, 8 BRISTOL 406 were still registered in the UK — 5 licensed and on the road, plus 3 declared SORN (off-road). The figures come from official DVLA vehicle licensing data.
Is the BRISTOL 406 rare?
The BRISTOL 406 is genuinely rare, with only 8 left, making it rarer than 80% of the 2,408 UK car models we track.
Is the BRISTOL 406 increasing or decreasing?
Over the last year the number of BRISTOL 406 on UK roads held steady.
What fuel do most BRISTOL 406 use?
Most BRISTOL 406 run on petrol — about 100% of those still registered.
When did the BRISTOL 406 peak?
The BRISTOL 406 peaked at 8 registered in 2015 Q4, and was first recorded in the data in 2014 Q3.