Bristols...

[spoodler]

I know that Bristol Cars tend to divide opinion on this site but I've always been a fan. I was reminded of my affection for these quirky cars when one turned up last weekend at our local (somewhat eclectic) car meet.
I bought mine from a farmer who had serious money problems and needed it gone. It had sat for a while and wasn't perfect by any means but was still a wonderful experience to own and enjoy. 'Twas the fastest car I've owned for covering ground cross country and fantastic for just trundling about listening to punk rock on the stereo. We had one memorable evening streetracing it against Wiltshire Constabulary's new high speed motorway pursuit car, a tricked up Vauxhall Senator, and even the two Police officers liked it and let me go with just a wagging finger to curb my excesses. Unfortunately at the time I was going through a lean streak, working night shift printing dole cheques for a pittance and couldn't afford the running costs. I sold it to a guy in Cologne who ran a boutique and held the concession for selling Doc Marten boots in Germany (to people like me he observed after noting my skinhead haircut!). He and a friend turned up with an attache case full of cash, bought it there and then and disappeared into the night like something out of a dodgy thriller...
Mine was a '75 411 Series 5 with a blueprinted 400c.i. Chrysler V8 and a big Holley. The earlier car is "only" a straight six 2.0l but shares an awful lot of the same DNA, and quirks.

Edited by spoodler on Wednesday 4th April 12:58

[fourwheelsteer]

That's a nice pair of Bristols (pardon the pun). I'm a fan and there are a few others on here including at least one Bristol owner. If I could I'd have a 405 and a Series 5 411 just like yours so I think you have impeccable taste. Sadly funds don't permit such things at the moment but hopefully at some point they will...

[spoodler]

Impeccable taste eh? Thank you. You've obviously no knowledge of the other vehicles I've owned...
I replaced the Bristol with my first Harley Davidson (that I bought from the profit) so even tho' it felt at the time like it was bankrupting me I didn't do too badly! I've tried many a time to replicate the experience but found no other marque quite the same. American muscle have the engines/trans but lack the quality and handling, Jaguars lacked the V8 and the sense of occasion (although I did like the XJS 5.3 V12), and Rolls Royce/Bentley were too "soft" for my liking. Instead I went in a different direction and owned a collection of Triumphs and 2CVs, quite a thought that my biggest car had an engine eleven times the size of the smallest. I still miss it.

[vvt]

spoodler said:

I know that Bristol Cars tend to divide opinion on this site but I've always been a fan. I was reminded of my affection for these quirky cars when one turned up last weekend at our local (somewhat eclectic) car meet.
I bought mine from a farmer who had serious money problems and needed it gone. It had sat for a while and wasn't perfect by any means but was still a wonderful experience to own and enjoy. 'Twas the fastest car I've owned for covering ground cross country and fantastic for just trundling about listening to punk rock on the stereo. We had one memorable evening streetracing it against Wiltshire Constabulary's new high speed motorway pursuit car, a tricked up Vauxhall Senator, and even the two Police officers liked it and let me go with just a wagging finger to curb my excesses. Unfortunately at the time I was going through a lean streak, working night shift printing dole cheques for a pittance and couldn't afford the running costs. I sold it to a guy in Cologne who ran a boutique and held the concession for selling Doc Marten boots in Germany (to people like me he observed after noting my skinhead haircut!). He and a friend turned up with an attache case full of cash, bought it there and then and disappeared into the night like something out of a dodgy thriller...
Mine was a '75 411 Series 5 with a blueprinted 400c.i. Chrysler V8 and a big Holley. The earlier car is "only" a straight six 2.0l but shares an awful lot of the same DNA, and quirks.

Edited by spoodler on Wednesday 4th April 12:58

Aha, so it's you that sold the car to Norbert from Cologne. I considered buying this 411 after he had it dismantled by a 'car restorer' in Yate near Bristol. As I wasn't sure what was missing, I passed and Norbert then spent in excess of £60K in having it restored by Bristol Cars. Once he won a BOC concours with it he got rid. Not sure who has it now though I believe it was Toby Silverton's daily driver for a while. Velly Intellesting VVT

Edited by vvt on Wednesday 4th April 20:27

Edited by vvt on Wednesday 4th April 20:29

[spoodler]

Thanks for that - it's nice to know that it had some money spent on it, it deserved it. The farmer I bought it from was a friend of a friend who had accepted it in lieu of a huge debt back in the classic car boom and then parked it in a barn. A few years later when he found himself in trouble the classic bubble had burst and I bought it for a fraction of what it owed him. It basically came out of storage and went on the road but I couldn't afford the fuel consumption or to do the bits and pieces needed to keep it up together, hence the sale. We jump started it from my mate's RS Turbo, I basically gave it a service, a thorough clean and treated all the leather which despite its age came up lovely. It was certainly an experience that I'll never forget. Even joining the Owners' Club was an eye opener - I think mine was the only address that had a street name and a house no., just about every body else lived in the "Old Rectory" or somesuch, and had a title other than "Mr" (and appeared to be at least a couple of decades older than me). Shortly after joining, another member, a local Lady invited me to tea - normally you have to pay admission! Certainly an experience I'll be unlikely to repeat with my present fleet.