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Bristol |
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In car manufacturers, Bristol Cars makes luxury cars built by hand. Bristol is based at Filton, near Bristol, England.
Bristol Cars has no network of distributors or dealers and relies on direct dealing with customers. Their showroom in London is at Kensington. Bristol has traditionally proclaimed that its cars outlast the owners and that they are the last entirely British-owned luxury car builder.
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The cars are not unlike limited editions. The most recently published official production figures were for 1982 that stated 104 cars were produced that year. The current production is estimated to be not any greater than this number.
Bristol builds expensive and in the company's words, 'nicely understated' cars. Bristol Cars value traditions and practicality do not believe in ostentation. The major details of the car have remained the same for the last few decades.
The cars are handmade and it takes four times the man-hours to build than other luxury cars.
The styling again is quietly understated with good looks. The car is valued for its engineering and good aerodynamic qualities. For a four seater luxury model, the cars are rather small but uncramped. The car is built for regular use rather than the occasion spin. Luggage space is large as the spare tyre is stowed in the front left wing (behind a hinged panel) with the battery and fuse box in the right wing.
Bristol Cars maintain any car that they ever built. Mostly all parts are in stock. Parts are also re-manufactured or handmade as per the owner's requirement.
For their quality, rarity and cost, second-hand and classic Bristols are good value and some of the early models are worth big sums.
The history of Bristol Cars began in 1945 when the Bristol Aeroplane Company (BAC) began working with AFN Ltd, makers of Frazer Nash cars, on joint automotive manufacture plans. One of the directors of the company H J Aldington (of AFN) gained access to the BMW factory in Munich on several occasions and on one with Two Bristol representatives gathering detailed plans and development engines. Fritz Fiedler, BMW chief engineer was also given employment at AFN. Here he continued development of the BMW 328 engine.
In 1947, Bristol broke its ties with AFN, returning control of AFN to Aldington family. For many years, BAC was re-registered as Bristol Car Ltd.. it has, for several years, marketed its cars as made by the Bristol Aeroplane Company.
Until 1961 all Bristol cars used evolutions of the 6-cylinder BMW-derived engine. In 1961, with the Bristol 407, the company moved to large Chrysler V8 engines, suitable for heavy cars. All post-1961 Bristols, the present Blenheim and Fighter models use Chrysler engines.
The former racing driver Tony Crook and Sir George White owned Bristol Cars from 1960 to 1973. In 1973, Sir George sold his stake to Tony Crook. In 1997, Toby Silverton came on board and Bristol car development embarked on much higher planes.
In 2001, Crook sold the company to Silverton and the company still remains in his ownership.
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