Well, while I was supposed to be getting on with something else, my attention as usual wandered and I came across this page in the Bristol Review, vol 3, number 8. The Bristol Review was the Works Journal of the mighty Bristol Aeroplane Company in its heyday. It contained news, information and updates on various… Continue reading A Gem from the Bristol Review from Spring 1955
Blog
Organisation Chart Map of National Type Approval for Bristol Cars Ltd 1981
Whilst trawling (trolling?) through the archives, the following yellowing, rather crumpled organisational map came to light. This was back in the day when Bristol Cars Ltd was still at the Filton site. But times were changing, and no longer would the BAC barrier glide upwards and a uniformed commissionaire salute smartly when I swept up… Continue reading Organisation Chart Map of National Type Approval for Bristol Cars Ltd 1981
Aerospace Bristol Car Display
Aerospace Bristol have exceeded themselves and are putting on a Bristol related display with a lot of material we have loaned them for the May half term. Everything from 1940s prototype models to an immaculate cast of the Fighter. The lovely 450 replica will also be on display there and our lightly restored 401 buck is… Continue reading Aerospace Bristol Car Display
BOHT Lecture Day at the Atwell Wilson Motor Museum. 19 April 2024
A very enjoyable and instructive day was had by all participants. We also planned to provide a live YouTube transmission for those not able to attend. Unfortunately this was not entirely successful and we lost the connection for part of the day. However we had a belt and braces solution available and also made videos… Continue reading BOHT Lecture Day at the Atwell Wilson Motor Museum. 19 April 2024
News Flash! BOHT Lecture Day
The BOHT Lecture Day is on Friday 19 April but don't worry if won't be there! You can see the talks anyway as we will be providing a live stream of the lecture on the BOHT YouTube channel. The transmission will be starting at about 12:00 BST. Don't worry if you can't make it at… Continue reading News Flash! BOHT Lecture Day
BOHT Lecture Day
The Bristol Owners Heritage Trust will be holding its next lecture day on Friday, the 19th of April, at the Atwell Wilson Motor Museum in Calne, Wiltshire. SN11 0NF. We will be hearing from: >Oliver Nuthall of INracing about their newly developed - and improved - Bristol engines, >Stefan Cembrowicz will present a series of workforce portraits… Continue reading BOHT Lecture Day
Bristol Sports Engine Line Builder
Today I turned up Ray Williams’ own record of the engines he built personally on the sports engine line at Filton 1953 onwards. Incidentally he was told “ if Tony Crook comes in and you speak to him you are fired". Presumably TADC was seen as a rival on the hunt for hot tuning tips…… Continue reading Bristol Sports Engine Line Builder
The 401/2/3 buck in light restoration
The Heritage Trust has in its custody the front end of the buck on which your own 401 and 403 were coach built. It is made of sculpted hardwood and high quality ply. The nose section was obviously detachable to enable fine detail panel work. Tinsmiths would cut and shape aluminium panels to fit using… Continue reading The 401/2/3 buck in light restoration
Perhaps a 405 prototype!
In this iteration, Bristol have contemplated their first, four door model, presumably the precursor of the 405. Its vertical rear window flanked by spectacular fins shows how they addressed the rear end, perhaps consistent with current streamlining principles and a compromise with Kamms cut-off tails. And at the front, that tall long stroke engine is… Continue reading Perhaps a 405 prototype!
Bristol 401 streamliner model
This hand made prototype streamliner (we presume from the early 1950s) has a same or similar roofline as the 401 - but the droop nose recalls Porsche’s 356 , Panhard’s Dyna, or the Citroen DS. The model is 11” long x 4 1/2 “ wide x 4” high (28 x 11.5 x 10.2). The second… Continue reading Bristol 401 streamliner model
Bristol Owners Heritage Trust 