The BOHT is trawling through our monstrous haystack of Archives. These were in Dennis Seviers papers. There is a, ahem, range of opinions on what exactly Bristol did to the Chrysler engines, ranging from nothing much (Sid Lovesy) to major performance mods. The records we are unearthing will tell us more , but Bristols certainly… Continue reading More Treasures from The Archives
Category: Photos
Treasures from the Archives
The skills of Italian coachbuilder graphics are well expressed in these pencil drawings from Carrozzeria Touring Milano. Note the elegant curves of the bodywork. I'll leave the rest of you to continue the analogy? The Balilla (1934) by Marcello Dudovich: 'the most famous bottom in Italian adverising history'. And here's another example of Italian bodywork… Continue reading Treasures from the Archives
Pictures from BOHT Lecture Day on Saturday, 28 March 2026 at Filton.
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
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
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 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… Continue reading Bristol model – What might have been…
603 Buck en route from Brabazon hangar to display at new Science Museum at Wroughton
The Brabazon Hangar, at the edge of the Brabazon runway in Filton, was the biggest building in the world when it was built - containing 1,000,000 m³. Each of its front doors is 100 yards long. We've been fortunate to store our 7(and a quarter!) bucks in there since we bought them at the Windlesham… Continue reading 603 Buck en route from Brabazon hangar to display at new Science Museum at Wroughton
This and That!
BOHT Trust Chairman's executive luxury transport in the foreground, brought in to drag stuff around, Bristol Freighter in background. (Land Rover 80” Series One, present owner over 50 years!) Work underway on first casting from Fighter mould! Note wheel being scaled down.
Bristol Owners Heritage Trust 