Bristol Cars goes into administration

[Ozzie Osmond]

threespires said:

To me, it's a 'no brainer'.

Quite right, BMW would only acquire it if they had no brains at all.

[EDLT]

Ozzie Osmond said:

threespires said:

To me, it's a 'no brainer'.

Quite right, BMW would only acquire it if they had no brains at all.

Indeed, BMW already has a stack of ropey British brands from when they bought Rover.

[Stu - B]

Let's remind ourselves of the sublime motoring experience Bristol offered - http://tinyurl.com/6cd9yud
- albeit with the reviewer not being allowed to drive the car.

Best to celebrate innovative manufacturers like Atom and Morgan.

Edit....or even Ariel and Morgan (sorry!).

Edited by Stu - B on Friday 4th March 00:07

[Emeye]

Hendry said:

I see individualism as something to be celebrated. It's not about the Empire, it's about ploughing your own furrow rather than joining the masses and just settling for a BMW X5 and box sets of Friends.

You and I are very different people.

Is it about individualism or elitism?

I would exactly say I wasn't individual, especially when it comes to car choices.

[Hendry]

Emeye said:

Hendry said:

I see individualism as something to be celebrated. It's not about the Empire, it's about ploughing your own furrow rather than joining the masses and just settling for a BMW X5 and box sets of Friends.

You and I are very different people.

Is it about individualism or elitism?

I would exactly say I wasn't individual, especially when it comes to car choices.

I was raised in a council house and drive a Bristol. I also refuse to go to the gym. Most Bristol drivers I know have Saabs and old Landcruisers as second cars (I have a 10 year old Jimny) rather than... well, whatever "elitists" in your mind drive.

And what is "elitism" anyway other than a word used by socialists and those who don't handle jealousy well.

[Trommel]

Emeye said:

Is it about individualism or elitism?

I would exactly say I wasn't individual, especially when it comes to car choices.

What a strange distinction. How can driving a particular car be elitist?

Exactly what sort of chip is it you have?

[Emeye]

Trommel said:

What a strange distinction. How can driving a particular car be elitist?

Exactly what sort of chip is it you have?

I think it's an intel. I just got the impression that many people who bought a Bristol did so because they thought they were above driving something as ordinary as a roller. I remember Stirling Moss banging on about them once. Like I said they didn't do it for me. If I was going bespoke it would be something like a Weissman or however you spell it.

[Hendry]

Emeye said:

Trommel said:

What a strange distinction. How can driving a particular car be elitist?

Exactly what sort of chip is it you have?

I think it's an intel. I just got the impression that many people who bought a Bristol did so because they thought they were above driving something as ordinary as a roller. I remember Stirling Moss banging on about them once. Like I said they didn't do it for me. If I was going bespoke it would be something like a Weissman or however you spell it.

Well your intel is wrong. I don't want to drive anything ordinary and that has had me in a 7, a beach buggy, a Cerbera and a Spitfire amongst others. And I am no different to any other Bristol owner I've met, all of whom have had very individual garages.

Would I have a BMW? Probably not. An Audi even less. When I wanted to spend just over a grand on a runabout I chose the Jimny over a Clio. But that's because driving is an experience for me and that experience shouldn't be easy to attain -- or it stops being an experience.

[alfabadass]

Wasn't Jeremy Clarkson refused one and told to fk off?

Or was it that James May wanted one but Bristol wouldn't sell him one cos he was mates with Clarkson?

RIP Bristol, I wouldn't buy one as they look crap but I know they float some boats!

[anonymous-user]

ewenm said:

Certainly give me the horn...


since no-one else was responding to your bad puns.

I thank you! To revive the company, you'd need jugs of cash.


PS: a factoid - Bristol, having made aircraft during WW2 and been bombed a bit, received BMW tools etc as war reparations, which is why early Bristol cars resemble BMWs of that era.

[i remember]

Very underated cars in my eyes. Styling only to suit certain tastes but I thought the fighter was fantastic.

Then you get onto the very low key that it would frighten the fk out of anyone wishing to give it a run for its money, leaving them looing like a tt.

Sad times, I'm afraid to say it I'm suprised they have gone this long. Let's hope they get a new buyer with good ideas!

[r129sl]

Manks said:

Yes, and I know that some people wear bow ties. Equally valid choices in my view.

I rather like bow ties. Much like a Bristol, they are infinitely more practical than the common choice. A bow tie neither dangles in the ingredients when I am cooking nor runs the risk of strangling me when I lean over a running engine. The fact that you don't like them makes them even better!

I think this rather proves my maxim: if something is any good, you can guarantee they'll stop making it.

[anonymous-user]

With the right support, they could bounce back, but things might be a bit wobbly.

[Gun]

Sad to hear this, I always admired the Fighter. A comfy cruiser powered by a Viper engine, what's not to like! That's one car that'll probably disappear from my Euro Lottery list.

[suffolk009]

If I had the money, I would have brought a Fighter. With even more money and I'd have sent it to Zagato for a one-off body.

Bespoke motoring.

[Gun]

suffolk009 said:

If I had the money, I would have brought a Fighter. With even more money and I'd have sent it to Zagato for a one-off body.

Bespoke motoring.

Just imagine a Fighter T with a coachbuilt body by Zagato

[Manks]

r129sl said:

I rather like bow ties. Much like a Bristol, they are infinitely more practical than the common choice. A bow tie neither dangles in the ingredients when I am cooking nor runs the risk of strangling me when I lean over a running engine.

Almost without exception, everyone I have met sporting a bow tie as daytime wear has been someone who desperately needed to be dragged by the throat into a running engine. Perhaps the bow tie is the badge of self-knowledge.

[McAndy]

Sad times indeed, but I can understand why. With the lack of publicity they gave their products they were always going to reach the end of a generation or two of buyers who would 'get' Bristol.

[frankthetank2]

Another British car company up the swannie, genetta and morgan soon for the axe? hope not.

[Monkeylegend]

Stuttgart911 said:

The story of Bristol Cars, as told by LJK Setright is recommended reading, and is a lesson that many other manufacturers might follow.

I very much doubt that, unless they too like Bristol cars want to end up in administration.