RE: Bristol Cars returns from the dead
Discussion
Cliftonite said:
The script badge shown is of the Bristol Omnibus Company/The Bristol Tramways and Carriage Company?!
They built and operated BUSES!
I stand to be corrected but weren't the chassis building company completely different from the bus operators. As they were a a part of the BET (was it?) Group of nationalised bus fleets they operated a fleet almost entirely consisting of Bristol vehicles with Eastern Coach Works bodies. BRS also operated a large number of Bristol lorries
They built and operated BUSES!
I stand to be corrected but weren't the chassis building company completely different from the bus operators. As they were a a part of the BET (was it?) Group of nationalised bus fleets they operated a fleet almost entirely consisting of Bristol vehicles with Eastern Coach Works bodies. BRS also operated a large number of Bristol lorries
Edited by Cliftonite on Friday 7th May 14:23
loggo said:
Cliftonite said:
The script badge shown is of the Bristol Omnibus Company/The Bristol Tramways and Carriage Company?!
They built and operated BUSES!
I stand to be corrected but weren't the chassis building company completely different from the bus operators. As they were a a part of the BET (was it?) Group of nationalised bus fleets they operated a fleet almost entirely consisting of Bristol vehicles with Eastern Coach Works bodies. BRS also operated a large number of Bristol lorries
They built and operated BUSES!
I stand to be corrected but weren't the chassis building company completely different from the bus operators. As they were a a part of the BET (was it?) Group of nationalised bus fleets they operated a fleet almost entirely consisting of Bristol vehicles with Eastern Coach Works bodies. BRS also operated a large number of Bristol lorries
Edited by Cliftonite on Friday 7th May 14:23
Another Stately Home of a company. Run for the fun of being there but not to make a profit.
Good luck to him but Ecccles said about F1 that, many people come in rich and leave poor. These companies can be the same.
How is TVR these days.
If they update the Fighter and it sells then we will all be happy though.
Good luck to him but Ecccles said about F1 that, many people come in rich and leave poor. These companies can be the same.
How is TVR these days.
If they update the Fighter and it sells then we will all be happy though.
SWoll said:
Equus said:
I actually quite liked the Fighter, but having seen one up close there was no denying that in terms of fit, finish, design and execution it was basically what you'd expect of an up-market kit car.
Asking £594K for one is a good joke, but I don't see many people astute enough to have become multi-milionaires falling for it.
Asking £594K for one is a good joke, but I don't see many people astute enough to have become multi-milionaires falling for it.
It does pose an interesting question though; is it better for a revived company to produce updated versions of the old models before developing new ones, i.e. Bristol, or to produce an entirely new model from the outset, i.e. TVR?
I fear I'll be long dead before seeing either company produce such a model, sadly.
I fear I'll be long dead before seeing either company produce such a model, sadly.
who wants to buy an extremely expensive updated Bristol fighter.... not many... nobody knows what it is.. it’s an irrelevant car in a world of much nicer cars that can be bought for obviously a lot less.
most of the Bristol enthusiasts (including those that can afford it) will be dead soon surely
most of the Bristol enthusiasts (including those that can afford it) will be dead soon surely
Lester H said:
Isn’t it ironic that there is a thriving thread on Dull, Bland and Boring, but when a proposal is made to revive a highly individual and quirky marque, there is so much pessimism.I could never afford a Bristol but admired/ tested them at a local car club.Yes their faults are well documented on PH, but they were totally different.As an analogy, like Jaguar ( also taken to task on DBB), in the 1970s they were like no other.
Just so. Let's celebrate eccentricity. Bristol was always rather mad, in a good way. If they get their act together, I'd buy one. I was in London about 15 years ago and asked doorman of the Hotel I was staying in for directions to the Bristol showroom. He kindly rang the showroom and said a guest wanted to visit the showroom. I was welcomed by Tony Crook and given an opportunity to examine Blenheim and Fighter models in the showroom. The cars were a curious mixture of parts with many items such as ashtrays - at least 4 of them of rather poor quality and there was no air conditioning on a car costing £140000. The need for extensive investment in improvements was very obvious.
Wishing Bristol all the best! Unlike some new-old companies (TVR, Radford) they are talking of building updated models of previously existing cars, rather than starting from scratch. I suspect that is easier. Bristol have had long associations with Chrysler. The Fighter will loose one of it's USPs though, if it looses the V10 Viper engine.
jorders500 said:
I've always liked Bristols.
I called in to the showroom once on my way back from a conference. The door squeaked as I opened it and I was greeted by a mature gentleman in a red striped shirt and braces. I said that I couldn't afford to buy one of his cars but could I have a look around anyway.
He said that was absolutely fine and, to my delight, he showed me around all the cars (inc a Fighter) and told me some great stories about the history of the company.
It was a wonderful half hour with a real gentleman.
I wish the new venture and its backers all the best.
I did this too. I was wondering if middle-aged Bristol was runnable as a company car. Mr Tony Crooks took me to the underground carpark to see a slightly tired 603 with 100k on the clock. He said that it wasn't worth buying one in good, low mileage condition to then put 25-30k on a year. Charming honesty. I got him reminiscing about the exploding Avon tyre demonstration and other things. It was a wonderful 60 mins!! IN the end though, I couldn't make the maths work.I called in to the showroom once on my way back from a conference. The door squeaked as I opened it and I was greeted by a mature gentleman in a red striped shirt and braces. I said that I couldn't afford to buy one of his cars but could I have a look around anyway.
He said that was absolutely fine and, to my delight, he showed me around all the cars (inc a Fighter) and told me some great stories about the history of the company.
It was a wonderful half hour with a real gentleman.
I wish the new venture and its backers all the best.
romac said:
I did this too. I was wondering if middle-aged Bristol was runnable as a company car. Mr Tony Crooks took me to the underground carpark to see a slightly tired 603 with 100k on the clock. He said that it wasn't worth buying one in good, low mileage condition to then put 25-30k on a year. Charming honesty. I got him reminiscing about the exploding Avon tyre demonstration and other things. It was a wonderful 60 mins!! IN the end though, I couldn't make the maths work.
If Bristol had stuck to the Crook model they'd still be plodding on.A couple of new cars a year to someone who just fancies the idea and plenty of classics and restoration work.
The fighter killed them, which was a shame.
Although I do wonder if the owner hadn't got divorced from Joe Lewis's daughter if they'd still be trucking on.
Fighter was a shocker. Leaked. Had to be hand ‘fettled’ for the bits to fit (grinding down the rear screen anyone?) and Bristol lied about the number they’d actually made. Good luck in resurrecting it
If I wanted a Yank engined retro mobile WHG wouldn’t I buy a concours Bristol 410/411, Jensen Interceptor or CV-8?
If I wanted a Yank engined retro mobile WHG wouldn’t I buy a concours Bristol 410/411, Jensen Interceptor or CV-8?
SJMW said:
Fighter was a shocker. Leaked. Had to be hand ‘fettled’ for the bits to fit (grinding down the rear screen anyone?) and Bristol lied about the number they’d actually made. Good luck in resurrecting it
If I wanted a Yank engined retro mobile WHG wouldn’t I buy a concours Bristol 410/411, Jensen Interceptor or CV-8?
Why not just have done with it and buy a Ford Pilot.If I wanted a Yank engined retro mobile WHG wouldn’t I buy a concours Bristol 410/411, Jensen Interceptor or CV-8?
Promsuit1 said:
who wants to buy an extremely expensive updated Bristol fighter.... not many... nobody knows what it is.. it’s an irrelevant car in a world of much nicer cars that can be bought for obviously a lot less.
most of the Bristol enthusiasts (including those that can afford it) will be dead soon surely
Liam Gallagher and Paul Smith far from old, Tina Turner less so.most of the Bristol enthusiasts (including those that can afford it) will be dead soon surely
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