Bristol Cars

[The Surveyor]

I find the fact that most people don't like them quite appealing. Inoffensive and nicely different.

[Disastrous]

g3org3y said:

From the other thread:



Build quality looks a little dubious.

If that said SSangYonglongsdong on the back of it, nobody would even be surprised!


They are a marketing triumph. Produce ste, ugly cars and claim they're only for the rich and posh and people trip over themselves to pretend to like the brand. Ridiculous things. They should just go all out and make them 'members only' cars.

[coppice]

One could say precisely the same about some Ferraris and Maseratis of course. I have never been convinced that Bristols are poorly made- the ones I have seen may not have panel gaps like Audis but there again if they had those they would be bloody Audis. And of course nobody knew or cared about panel gaps until journalists thought they were important and started writing about them in the late 80s. Ever seen the gaps on an original Elan ? I would wager that a far higher percentage of Bristols survive than Jaguars for example .

Personally I celebrate the fact that in the UK we have such beacons of eccentricity as Alvis, Jowett(an Alfasud 30 years early), Jensen (CV8 is divine ), Gordon Keeble (stunning looking car) , AC (more to them than the cliche of a 427 Cobra)and Bristol. And Bristol are the only marque which makes one start one's post with 'One'.

[stephen300o]

Hand made to exacting standards by a blind man.

[Baryonyx]

g3org3y said:

Are we looking at the same picture!?

I find it a very attractive car, though from some angles it's not exactly 'hot'. But it is, on the whole, a good looker. I love that 'cabin back' look.









Where it falls down is the interior. What a fking disaster zone.





I'm sure if it had a TVR badge and sold for a lower price, people would be going wild for it (and maybe with a manual transmission), and it would be hailed as a hero. Part of the wild sense of disparity these cars exude comes from the price. If they sold for around £4000 used, as a kit car, they'd no doubt have a rabid following. However, given that their pricing has always been utterly exorbitant to the point they only sell the 'money no object' customers new, this is not and will never be the case and part of what makes these cars so compelling is the gall of the marque to produce such a beguiling and shonky product at the prices it charges.

[NomduJour]

Disastrous said:

Produce ste, ugly cars and claim they're only for the rich and posh and people trip over themselves to pretend to like the brand

More of the usual internet crap. What a depressingly predictable thread.

[angry jock]

Another Bristol fan here. Had a friend when I was younger had a 411 rather like this one and I loved it.

[darrenw]

I was really pleased to see some at the Silverstone Classic last year because I'd never had chance before to have a proper look around one. I've never really understood them, which is fair enough because I'm nothing like the target audience.


Bristol at the Silverstone Classic 2013 - photo by Retro-Motoring


Bristol Britannia at the Silverstone Classic 2013 - photo by Retro-Motoring


Silver Bristol Blenheim V8BLM at the Silverstone Classic 2013 - photo by Retro-Motoring


Bristol Blenheim at the Silverstone Classic 2013 - photo by Retro-Motoring

After a good long look I still didn't get it. But then I don't understand why people wear red trousers either. Ah well.

[ffhard]

20-odd years ago I used to work just round the corner from the Bristol factory. More like a big shed to be honest but I would have one like a shot if I ever had the chance and/or money.

Talk about build quality all you like but have you ever sat in a Lamborghini Miura? I have and build quality wise it was junk. But I'd have one of them as well!

[ess]

Rather good provenance

[CoolHands]

g3org3y said:

From the other thread:



Build quality looks a little dubious.

That looks like a bad kit-car with Vauxhall Vectra rear lights

[Ozzie Osmond]

I hear Toyota has bought the Bristol brand and is ready to launch a new model,





There will also be additional luxury packages available. The Blexus and the Blaybach.

[Jim AK]

In ones mind one is in ones 60`s. One has made a lot of money & ones Bentley Arnage T is going to cost one quite a lot at its next annual refit.

One does not want a Continental GT, Spur or GTC & one loathes the Mulsanne.

What is one to do?

One is off to Kensington with ones Coutts cheque book with a view to availing oneself of a Blenheim or Brittania.

Toodle Pip chaps!!

I seriously love these & always have. They may have iffy build quality & other issues but IMO their target `punter` ie the Chap above, owned a series of atrociously built Bentley or Rolls Royce products in the last 30 years.

Whats not to love.

Yours.

Mr Toad.

[GTiRichTea]

Have to say i love the Fighter always wondered what it would be like to own and drive, anyone ever strapped a Vbox to one or took it to vmax would love to see how fast they really were.

[Disastrous]

NomduJour said:

Disastrous said:

Produce ste, ugly cars and claim they're only for the rich and posh and people trip over themselves to pretend to like the brand

More of the usual internet crap. What a depressingly predictable thread.

More just 'using my actual eyes and taste' than lusting after some horrid old cars because they're eccentric. In a world with so much automotive beauty to be had, why would these be on anyone's shopping list. There are eccentricities with far better looks and far better performance. I honestly can't see the appeal, over and above frankly cringey faux-Clarkson "one doesn't drive a Bristol, one stewards it" type justifications.

We all like different things but I resent being called internet crap.

[Baryonyx]

GTiRichTea said:

Have to say i love the Fighter always wondered what it would be like to own and drive, anyone ever strapped a Vbox to one or took it to vmax would love to see how fast they really were.

The Fighter is what drew me to the brand in the first place. I'm wild about V10's, and it looks so narrow and usesble.

[coppice]

Where it falls down is the interior. What a fking disaster zone.





I sort of like it; English baroque. Never to be confused with anything made in Germany

[williamp]

This is what the factory looked like

http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php...

[TIGA84]

coppice said:

Where it falls down is the interior. What a fking disaster zone.





I sort of like it; English baroque. Never to be confused with anything made in Germany

English Baroque? No.

Fords 1980's plastic switches bin? Yes.

Look at the fking plastic transmission tunnel, it looks like its out of an old transit..........

£150,000??? I'm glad they're dead.

[StuntmanMike]

Disastrous said:

g3org3y said:

From the other thread:



Build quality looks a little dubious.

If that said SSangYonglongsdong on the back of it, nobody would even be surprised!


They are a marketing triumph. Produce ste, ugly cars and claim they're only for the rich and posh and people trip over themselves to pretend to like the brand. Ridiculous things. They should just go all out and make them 'members only' cars.

It looks like a bad Chinese copy of a Vauxhall Senator.