I imagine that these are cars for older gentlemen, a bit corpulent, preferably with a past in the military.
V8 from Chrysler
Bristol's 400 series started just after the war with the Bristol 400, 401, 402, and so on. The first cars had engines from BMW, and the bodies resembled pre-war BMWs. Later, from Bristol 404 (1953) the cars got the expression they have kept until the closure in 2011. A very long front section with a 2-door coupe. From 1961 came the 407 – the first model to get V8 engines from Chrysler. It was a 313 cubic inch A engine that was in production from 1957 to 1967 and was earmarked for export to Canadian and Australian cars – and British Bristol.
The Bristol 408 was built in two series. The Series 2 received an upgraded version of Chrysler's A engine of 318 cubic inches. This engine was also used in the Bristol 410. The successor 411 was first built in 5 series, but later - after the 412 was introduced - a 6th series of 411 was built. This probably happened because the appearance of the 412 was so special, that some customers wanted the 411 back. In my eyes, the Bristol 411 series 3 to 6 appear to be the best option in the 400 series. The Bristol 411 received a 383 engine (6,3 liters) but from the Series 4 a larger engine (400 cu.in., 6,6 liters) but with lower compression and fewer horsepower. The Bristol 412 first got this engine, but later series of the Bristol 412 got Chrysler's LA 360 engine (5,9 liters) which was also used in later Bristol models.
Hand built cars
The cars were built with an aluminum body on a steel frame. Inside, there was a lot of walnut wood and leather and rich instrumentation. It all becomes quite sumptuous, and one can imagine that Bristol appeals to an older guard of men with weight, preferably with a background from the military. What I don't like about the Bristol is that when you study them up close, you can find places where the body joints vary more than you would find on a car made by modern robots. Small defects in the bodywork can of course also be the result of damage and repairs.
As a hobby car
With a production rate of 50-60 cars a year, each car is special. Most of the cars for sale are RHD. Cars with the steering wheel on the left side may be more desirable. According to the vehicle register, there are only a handful of Bristol cars in Norway. If you want a Bristol, it can take a long time before you find one for sale. Hand-built cars in small series, such as the Bristol, will always be classics.
About the pictures
The car in the main picture was on display at The London Classic Car Show 2023 under a stand for the Bristol Owners' Club. The white Bristol 407 and the blue Bristol 411 both participated in the Brooklands Summer Classic Gathering in 2023. The car with the open spare wheel housing participated in the Norwegian Sports Car Club's spring mustering at Øvrevoll gallop 2026,
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