An urgent notice from the Bristol Owners Heritage Trust

Dear Fellow Bristoleers,

A group of us from the Bristol Owners Heritage Trust went to Bristol Cars at Windlesham on Thursday for a socially distanced viewing of the sad remains of Bristol Cars Ltd and Bristol Cars Services Ltd., now both in liquidation.

Our brief as a registered charity is to conserve and make available for education and research heritage material related to the history of the marque.  All our archives are accessible for all, free, in the City of Bristol Archives, together with our large collection of photos and literature, and some of Sir George White’s and Tony Crook’s own memorabilia. 

For Sale by Private Treaty Assets from Bristol Cars Ltd Bristol Cars Services Ltd
BCL Online Auction

First priority: We will make a large offer by private treaty for the entire paper archives – 12 plan chests containing blueprints and designs for every model, plus a dozen filing cabinets with car history/despatch notes and correspondence from the 1940’s onwards. An amazing opportunity to acquire and save this unique collection of paperwork being the history of Bristol Cars.

Second priority: Should funds permit, we are interested in saving one or more of the wooden body bucks for display – these range from 401 to 412 . There is also a group of about 10 interesting small models of prototypes.  We will not bid for the spares.

The Heritage Trust have saved up a significant sum just for this event over the last few years, since it became sadly obvious that the firm were going under. Estimates are difficult – for this paperwork is priceless yet valueless. The Liquidator has postulated as much as £50,000 for the archives. Transport, cataloguing and interim storage will all add to our expenses.

This is a significant and important once in a lifetime opportunity to save the entire archives of this historic english car maker.

Please let me know if you would like to support us in the last chance to rescue, save and make publicly available  the history and culture of Bristol Cars.  

We are not asking for donations – yet. Please identify yourself to the Heritage Trust and, should our funds not suffice, we may need to call on you for donations (which can be Giftaided). Volunteers will also be needed to help with transport, sorting and digital cataloguing.

Yours in Bristol

Dr Stefan Cembrowicz
Chair, BOHT
stefan@cembrowicz.co.uk 07768 295084