Bristol

GB, 1947 to date

(1) Bristol Aeroplane Co Ltd, Filton, Bristol, 1947 -1960

(2) Bristol Cars Ltd, Filton, Bristol, 1960 to date

The first Bristol 400 was an anglicized version of the well-liked German 2-litre BMW featuring a 6-cylinder ohv push-rod engine developing 85bhp in standard form, transverse independent front suspension, rack and pinion steering, and centralized chassis lubrication. The Bristol for sale was expensive at £2.375, and was supplemented by the ‘Bristol 401’ saloon and ‘Bristol 402’cabriolet with Italian styling. Bristols were strictly fast touring cars, and a ‘Bristol 400’ took 3rd place in the 1949 Monte Carlo Rally, though a team of aerodynamic Bristol coupés ran in the 1953 and 1954 Le Mans 24 Hour Races. The engines, however, were supplied to Frazer-Nash, A.C. and Cooper as well as numerous smaller specialist constructors, while the American Arnolt was a sporting version produced for a Chicago importer. By 1955 the Bristol had grown into a 4-door saloon with battery and spare wheel housed in the front wings, and overdrive as standard; this model, the ‘Bristol 405’ acquired disc brakes in 1958. Its successor, the ‘Bristol 406’ had a 2.2-litre engine, and was even more expensive (£4.493 as against £3.189 for the ‘Bristol 405’); production was down to a trickle. The old 6-cylinder unit finally gave way in 1962 to a 250bhp ohv Chrysler V8 and Torqueflite automatic gearbox, and by 1968 this Bristol 407 had evolved into the Bristol 410 with minor styling improvements and a gear selector on the floor in place of the older push buttons. Since 1970 Bristol have made the 6.277cc Bristol 411 on similar lines; in 1973 form it offered 335bhp and 138mph, with such refinements as dual-circuit dis brakes, power-assisted steering, and through-flow ventilation.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; DF, MCS

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