Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) Bristol Fighter

I'm gutted that I was beaten to the 'bristol' quip!!!

They are sooooo English. They just reek of old money, crusty old colonels with big moustaches and labradors.

Theres always one....sorry two.

Doctor: Big breaths.

Patient: Yeth, and only thickthteen.

Bristols are clearly very desirable. And yet nearly every one seems to have certain styling features which are a bit jarring.

I'll admit now that I think I prefer Jensens. I must be a cad?

Bristols have never had anything as vulgar as styling features Dave, the early models were remarkably aerodynamic for their time - the 401 had a Cd of 0.36, remarkable in 1948 and probably still comparable to some cars today!

From these earliest beginnings the cars evolved into the last model of Blenheim, through various iterations and most of the changes made were to improve aerodynamic performance, but also to take into account modern aesthetics. The exception to this was the 412/Beaufighter targa-type coupe's which were Zagato designed and are very much a Marmite choice.

The Fighter is worth a long post which maybe Gyp can do, detailing the history and the fact the shape was designed by an ex-Brabham F1 engineer, with a Cd of 0.28. Again remarkable, I'd still love to own one!

As regards Jensen's I loved the Interceptor, but hated the CV8. That front styling and the bodywork was fibreglass, compared to the Superleggera derived body construction on the Bristol. It's really no contest old boy!

I do love Bristols

Roger-Cheshire and I met a maroon 401 owner on a New Year's Day classic car meet near me - fabulous car

It must have looked so modern in 1951 with its rounded back

The owner lived in Carleton near Skipton which is where I once lived and had driven a good hour and half to get to Wrightington for the meet

He showed us around the car pointing out the little pieces of engineering and design that had been lifted and developed from their aircraft heritage

All aluminium bodied on a steel box section chassis -now where have I seen that done recently ?

I have a client that has been getting his Bristol exactly how he wants it. The most interesting thing is he has had that big V8 matted to a manual gearbox rather than the auto which was the only option with the car.

I'm looking forward to seeing the finished article soon and will get some photo's.

It was a lovely car and way ahead of its time.

An elderly chap (I believe all Bristol owners are known as chaps) came to the factory a couple of months ago for a tour in his 401. Apart from being immensely interested in what we did when I took him around, he showed me his car with great pride. He'd had it many years and it was beautifully patinated.....and he loved it!

And also with an ash frame.