Bristol model – What might have been…

The Bristol owners Heritage Trust, with the aid of some very generous sponsors, raised a splendid  sum of funds  to enable us to rescue key items from the wreckage of this once proud firm in their final iteration at Windlesham.

This is one of the prototype concept models we bought from the liquidators . It is made of hand painted wood, carved most beautifully. Undated, but  I would date it around 1949 to early 50s, as it has the characteristic (and doubtless costly), pushbutton door handles only found on Types 401, 402 and 403.

While the profile of the roof resembles the 401/403 , this unnamed model has faired in headlights and a strikingly dropped bonnet line very much resembling the slightly later Porsche 911 or Citroën DS streamliners. Wraparound glass, a larger rear window, and those stumpy rear fins suggest an evolution of the 401- surely this country’s most advanced car of its era- and some would argue, ever since. 

The wheels are enveloped in a flowing coachwork , again presumably to aid streamlining.

There  are two  apertures adjacent to the rear number plate, which may well be twin exhausts. At the front the twin Bavarian sausages of BMW, have been abandoned in favour of a horizontal shark like mouth, perhaps the precursor of the 404/405 and onwards aero  inspired air intake.

The model is 11 ½ “ long, 4 ½” wide (29 x 11.5 cm)

The knock off Dunlop steel wheels and the wider track to wheelbase ratio surely identify it ( for me at least) as the 3.65 litre 160/220 model. This had all round rubber independent suspension (courtesy of Dr Alex Moulton), huge inboard rear disc brakes, and a magnesium alloy chassis ( see my interviews with Geoff Marsh and Norah Broomfield for what became of it). The front wings surely inspired the later V8 range.
The engine was Bristol’s own all alloy DOHC straight six. It was quoted as delivering 170 bhp – in its first iteration at least. We have images of an early testbed test to destruction- alarming, but a routine part of development. The road going prototype did 50,000 test miles and Dr Moulton commended its handling.
Built to Filtons excessively high standards, it would surely have been a Maserati eater.
Great days…..but it was not to be.
Stefan Cembrowicz