Naked Bristol

[Hervas]

I'm the current custodian of a 1972 Bristol 411 Series 2 which over eleven years was restored to concours standard by a west Yorkshire based Bristol specialist for the previous (sixth) owner, painted opalescent gunmetal grey and reupholstered in maroon leather. The quality of the cosmetic and mechanical restoration was superb and this 411 must be one of the best on the road.
I'm in correspondence with the three surviving previous owners. The first owner was the late Victor Gauntlett, at the time the chairman of PACE petroleum (which is an ideal job if you want to run a 6.3 litre Bristol). Mr Gauntlett was later chairman of Aston Martin.
The fifth owner commissioned a top end rebuild by Bristol specialists TT Workshops. They rebuilt the cylinder heads, machined and lined the exhaust ports, fitted new exhaust valves and increased the compression ratio. The Bristol was rated at 366 BHP on a rolling road which explains why it feels so quick.
During the recent restoration, the interesting decision was made to do away with the chrome side strips and bumper level rubbing strip so the flanks of the car are now largely uninterrupted. The 411 series 1 & 2 already had less side adornment than earlier variations of this body shape (from the 406 to the 410). Later variations of the 411 (series 3 onwards) retain the bumper level rubbing strips.
I wonder what other Bristol enthusiasts think of this exercise in removing the chrome strips and rubbing strip? I'd have done same the same thing myself if I'd commissioned the re-spray.
A few years ago I commissioned the restoration of a Citroen DS23 efi Pallas. The Citroen's colour was changed and I asked the body shop to leave off the side trims even though they're a particular feature of the most desirable 'Pallas' variant.
I used to drive a 1978 Porsche 928 which being an early model was unadorned with the side strakes which on later variants detract from the purity of the shape.
My daily driver is a 1972 BMW 2500 which has side strips. When the model was first introduced in 1968, the flanks were clean. If I ever need to have this car resprayed I'll remove the side strips. It's very subjective but to my eyes most cars look generally look better without them.

[dwomby]

I must say it does look rather good to me with the bare sides.

David

[Geoff Kingston]

I think its down to personal preference with a few practical advantages. I like the look of the car without the side strips, remember the Zagato 406 didn't have any extra side adornment and neither did the 603, Britannia and Brigand.
The practical advantage no holes in the aluminium to corrode round the fasteners for the trim. I am at the decision point soon with the rebuild of my Range Rover LSE it had silver coach lines just above waist height and rubbing strips along the bottom of the doors and the wings and while the latter may offer some protection against car park dent it looks a lot cleaner and less fussy as a design without them. Quite a few 410's lost their side strips after the 411 came out starting the trend?

[PaulS]

Certainly a personal preference but agreed their removal is more pleasing to my eye. Having said that the 411 mouldings were quite minimal and did help to break up the slab side visual. The double mouldings of the 410s always seemed a bit fussy to me. Again personal preference.

Former owner of a 1971 411 s2 sans mouldings.

[Kevin H]

Hervas,
I think your car looks very good without the side strips. It's possible that the removal of the side strips suits certain colours.

I have a dark blue 411 S5. I will see if I can photoshop out the side strips to see what it would look like without them.


Regards,
Kevin

[LVDBrigand]

I think it looks splendid, great work on the interior also, perhaps you have a picture of the engine bay?

[Hervas]

The 383 isn't the prettiest engine

[LVDBrigand]

Looks good to me

[Geoff Dowdle]

Hervas,
as in earlier posts a number of people like the 411 without the strips as a personal choice .
I think the car looks very nicely restored but very plain on the side without the strips . So my personal choice would be to put them back on .

Geoff
411S1 owner many years ago , now with two Type 400

[Thor]

In truth I think I prefer it with the strips, but I just had to say :

'Don't do another one or you'll have a pair of naked Bristols on your hands !'

It's an old joke, but should never be missed !

[jalli]

I have done the same with my series 3. Pics previously posted. I plan to put a coach line at some point around and running back from the top of the battery / spare wheel hatch to break up the sides as well.

These are prior to the rear bumpers going back on. Quite liked the look sans bumper as well, but the bumpers are back now

[jalli]

sorry forgot images

[LVDBrigand]

This one looks mint, have you made any upgrades to car or is it in "standard" (not really a word that one should use regarding the marque and its' wonderful models, apologies in advance ) trim? Either way what a great looking car.

[jalli]

new bits are

aluminium heads
new edelbrock carburettor
upgraded alternator
upgraded radiator fans

stainless exhausts to original pattern

i still have the original steel wheels put have put the Blenheims on for now. with new brake callipers

Then renovations:
complete bare metal respray
interior veneers redone

couple of little tweaks were that i chromed the side details over the rear wing vents and i changed the front indicators as really didnt like the BL ones. i also powder coated the front grille (like a series 5) as it was either a rechrome or that

only change inside is that i put a retro sound radio in which has blue tooth and phone built in. else inside unchanged


things to do yet.

Gearbox needs overhauling so that will come out at some point. would have made sense to do when it was out before but there were some time pressures

front seat leather needs some repair

will probably change bulbs to LEDs inside and out

i accept its not absolutely original which may upset some, but the changes are subtle i think and i hope acceptable to most