Bristol Cars goes into administration

[Zed Ed]

Pistonheads group buy?

I could do £50k

Anyone else?

[Trommel]

There are some pretty hefty liabilities I understand from the rumours, so it's not for the faint-hearted.

A real shame that Filton and all of the employees (but one) are probably gone for good, a lot of history there. If they do find an investor I imagine any production will be moved elsewhere in any case - I hope it doesn't end up as just a badge on something else.

[Trommel]

AndrewIC said:

They averaged roughly 150 cars a year over the past ten years apparently.

A tiny fraction of that.

[aeropilot]

tog said:

I think the service operation in Chiswick is run as a separate company.

Is that even still going...?

r has it moved from the A4 to somewhere else?... as when I came past it the other week, the Bristol Cars sign was gone from it, and I wondered of it had closed...??

[Trommel]

The service department moved to a unit in Brentford about a year ago.

[Rich_W]

GregE240 said:

Sad but not surprising. Frankly I'm staggered it hasn't gone under years ago. Eccentric to the point of almost not being relevant. How many of us have a Bristol as the car we'd buy with our lottery winnings? No enthusiast I know.

+1

You build cars that are that niche. (to put it mildy) And guess what. You don't do it for long in this climate. Face it, if they were Swiss or Austrian or Eastern European. You'd all mock.

[mikefacel]

What a shame. I used to press my nose up against the window of their showroom on my way to school way back when. They had a number plate that read 100MPH - wow!

Considering their business was based on 4-seater GTs, it seems absurd that they built the Fighter rather than replace the "fat Capri" that was the Brigand/411, etc. Would love to see a modern Bristol 4-seater.

I have a soft spot for the ugly duckling that was the 412 as well - brick with wheels designed by Zagato on a Friday afternoon after they'd had a particularly Sambuca-filled lunch. Hope they make it back - the marque must be worth something.

[Huntsman]

That is a great shame, fine old buses.

I've wanted to own a 410 for years.

I'm up for stumping up some cash for a PH motor company!

[530dTPhil]

Trommel said:

AndrewIC said:

They averaged roughly 150 cars a year over the past ten years apparently.

A tiny fraction of that.

I think you will find that the total number of new cars produced in the last few years is in single figures. In recent years, the bulk of the work going through Filton has been restoration of customers' cars.
I have been involved with glass supply to Filton and London for some while and the volumes have been very small especially on Fighter.

The company has been in non-UK ownership for many years since Toby Silverton bought it.

[Manks]

Rich_W said:

You build cars that are that niche. (to put it mildy)

Can anyone explain to me the appeal of Bristol cars?

What could possibly make anyone want to own a car this ugly?


Even the Fighter, which is marginally less gopping is no masterpiece of design. The rear looks like the work of an A level art student circa 1974.

[ewenm]

Manks said:

Can anyone explain to me the appeal of Bristol cars?

What could possibly make anyone want to own a car this ugly?


Even the Fighter, which is marginally less gopping is no masterpiece of design. The rear looks like the work of an A level art student's project 1974.

Individuality - not everyone wants to be part of the BMW 3-Series or 911 crowds. Obviously not enough people did though. It's a shame that another choice is leaving the market.

[andyps]

Manks said:

Even the Fighter, which is marginally less gopping is no masterpiece of design. The rear looks like the work of an A level art student's project 1974.

It may not be the most attractive car in some respects, but it is apparently very efficient aerodynamically whilst also being great for visibility, and that is something which Bristol thought important.

[wackojacko]

[Trommel]

Manks said:

Can anyone explain to me the appeal of Bristol cars?

What could possibly make anyone want to own a car this ugly?

There's more to things than the way they look, something I remind myself of when looking at most people's wives.

[anonymous-user]

Here's a 411, which is, I think, a good looking design.

[Manks]

Trommel said:

There's more to things than the way they look,

Do they drive any better than anything else? I cannot believe that a manufacturer that inept at design is able to put together a car that drives especially well.

It appears to me that they are the automotive equivalent of smoking a pipe.

[ewenm]

Manks said:

It appears to me that they are the automotive equivalent of smoking a pipe.

I like that analogy and see it as a positive thing, I suspect you don't

[BlueMR2]

Maybe i'll get to have a look at / ride at some time if there are any up north.

[davepoth]

I'd rather an ugly car that was amazing to drive than a pretty one that was utter st.

[Trommel]

Manks said:

Do they drive any better than anything else? I cannot believe that a manufacturer that inept at design is able to put together a car that drives especially well.

Is everything a purely objective decision?

Did you buy your house because it was the easiest to clean and cheapest to run?

Do you choose what you eat based on its nutritional value?

Do you wear easy-care non-iron clothes?

Are you German?

Edited by Trommel on Thursday 3rd March 21:31