Frequently Asked Questions about Classic Bristol

Who made Bristol cars and when did the company start?

Bristol cars were made by the car division of the Bristol Aeroplane Company, a British aircraft builder that decided in 1945 to enter the automobile market. The division was set up at the company's Filton airfield site near Bristol, England, and was headed by George White, grandson of the aircraft firm's founder. It later became independent as Bristol Cars Limited and remained a low-volume, hand-built marque.

What was the first Bristol car?

The first Bristol was the 400, a two-door car shown at the 1947 Geneva Motor Show and built until 1950. It was closely based on three prewar BMWs, combining the 326's chassis, the 328's engine and a body derived from the 327, complete with a BMW-style twin grille. Its 1,971 cc straight-six made 80 horsepower in production form.

Why do early Bristol cars have BMW-based engines?

Early Bristols used BMW-based engines because the company obtained rights to prewar BMW designs through Frazer Nash. AFN Ltd, the Frazer Nash maker run by the Aldington brothers, had been BMW's British importer before the war, and Bristol took a majority shareholding in AFN in July 1945. Bristol went on building its own six-cylinder engines derived from the BMW 328 unit for its cars until 1961.

When did Bristol switch to Chrysler V8 engines?

Bristol switched to Chrysler V8 power in 1961 with the 407, which replaced the six-cylinder 406. The engine was a Canadian-built Chrysler V8 of 313 cubic inches, and the 407 stayed in production until 1963. Bristols from the 407 through the 411 and 412 of the 1970s all used Chrysler V8s.

Who owned Bristol Cars over the years?

Bristol Cars began inside the Bristol Aeroplane Company and passed into private hands in 1960, when George White bought it and sold a 40 percent stake to racing driver and Bristol agent Tony Crook. Crook bought the remaining 60 percent in 1973, sold half the company to Toby Silverton in 1997 and the rest in 2002. Kamkorp, owner of Frazer-Nash Research, bought the business out of administration in 2011.

Is Bristol Cars still in business?

No, Bristol Cars went into liquidation in 2020 after the High Court ordered the company wound up. It had already entered administration in March 2011 with the loss of 22 jobs, before Kamkorp bought the assets. Under Kamkorp the firm showed one new model, the Bullet speedster, at the 2016 Goodwood Festival of Speed, but series production never followed.

What is an Arnolt-Bristol?

The Arnolt-Bristol was a sports car built for Chicago importer Stanley H. "Wacky" Arnolt on the Bristol 404 chassis with Bristol's 1,971 cc six-cylinder engine. Bertone in Italy supplied the bodywork, styled by Franco Scaglione. Production ran through 1959 and is usually given as 142 cars, a figure Motor Sport has questioned. Arnolt's team finished first, second and fourth in class at the 1955 Sebring 12 Hours.

Did Bristol race at Le Mans?

Yes, Bristol ran its 450 sports racers in the Le Mans 24 Hours from 1953 to 1955. Both cars retired with engine failures before half distance in 1953, but in 1954 and again in 1955 the three-car team finished first, second and third in class, placing seventh, eighth and ninth overall in 1955. The 1954 result also earned the team prize. Bristol withdrew from racing after the 1955 race.