New 403 owner

[bkz411]

Speaking as very new owner of a full nut and bolt restored Bristol 411 (v6), I probably do not have the experience to comment on what makes a Bristol a Bristol. However, I would like to contribute to this discussion to state what an excellent job Bristol did on this car, and for me - asking them to rebuild a 411 from scratch was an inspired plan. My brother has now asked Bristol to do the same to a Bristol 603 and I am eagerly awaiting a drive in that!

[GREG]

Any chance of some BKZ411 pictures -- I am thinking of doing similar !

[bkz411]

No problem - my car was reviewed in Octane, see
http://www.classicandperformancecar....uy_it_new.html

[GREG]

Originally Posted by bkz411

No problem - my car was reviewed in Octane, see
Bristol 411 - buy it new

You lucky lucky lucky so and so -- very very nice... let me know if you ever want to sell it .. cheap

[Hal]

Originally Posted by bkz411

No problem - my car was reviewed in Octane, see
Bristol 411 - buy it new

Wonderful car. I'm quite envious.

Before this modern 411, what car did you drive. What i mean is how does the driving experience compare to lets say a higher end BMW or Mercedes ?

[Des]

Electric wise, lead acid is a dead duck, Toyota make a grotesque hybrid thing which I notice tend to be driven appallingly, and there's an issue with Toyota brakes, perhaps smashed examples are piling up in scrap yards waiting for their modern technology batteries to be harvested, shame if they go to waste as their manufacture will have caused vast pollution.
Obviously how the car will be used needs consideration before going 'leccy, for delivering bottles of milk in the early hours it's ideal. How about towing a trailer mounted diesel generator for electric power, run on the agricultural red stuff, this could even be legal in a loophole kind of way, charge exempt congestion zone cruising!
I wouldn't be keen myself for a rover V8, It's what powers my regular car and I find them a rough old lump of monkey metal, but still likeable if that makes sense, more suited to a tractor than a lightweight car, and that famed 'V8 rumble' is not a good thing. There are far nicer engines out there, Big Lexus Merc copy has an ohc 4l V8, come to think of it, might be worth looking at what powers Mercs.
BMW engines, from what I've seen, do tend to be sprawled across their bays, but would be the one to go for if at all feasible, though I do think unlikely.
As for diesel, I heard or read some years ago that a diesel powered car is like being gay, more acceptable than it used to be, but still wrong.

[Hal]

Originally Posted by Des

Obviously how the car will be used needs consideration before going 'leccy, for delivering bottles of milk in the early hours it's ideal.

Now that's an idea, starting a milk round !

Originally Posted by Des

I wouldn't be keen myself for a rover V8, It's what powers my regular car and I find them a rough old lump of monkey metal,

Agreed, the ones i've heard did sound a tad agricultural (diesels i mean, dont know about petrol versions)

Originally Posted by Kevin Howard

But apart from that, the economic viability, poor range and lack of re-fuelling facilities in the UK, it just wouldn't be proper!

I'm sure that people said the same about LPG when Bristol introduced it as an option.

[Rubbond]

Gourgeous - but those switches and air ducts!

[seanmcs]

Where, please.

Sean

[Kevin H]

Originally Posted by seanmcs

Where, please.

Sean

I think he means the ones in this picture

[Rubbond]

I did indeed!
Surely aircraft-type click-clack switches would be better - like the 1920's
domestic light switches? More functional and pleasing to the eye.
The air vents remind me of an Austin Allegro. Or I suppose any other 1970's
car. Not my period, and I think the worst period in history for design.
The shape of the 411 however is still very distinctive and pleasing, and on
this car, gone are the horrible 1970's wheels etc..
I guess Bristol were lagging 10 years behind in design at the time, maybe
later went wrong in the 1980's?
I'm not really familiar with the later models, but wasn't keen on them when
contempory.
Rgds,
Andy.

[Kevin H]

Originally Posted by Claude

Yes, Kevin. A sound engineering analysis of why such an assertion would be appreciated.

It's not about engineering Claude. I'm sure it's possible, but a big part of the reason is in your next post "The old Bristol 6 had a distinct sound".

But apart from that, the economic viability, poor range and lack of re-fuelling facilities in the UK, it just wouldn't be proper!

Originally Posted by bkz411

Speaking as very new owner of a full nut and bolt restored Bristol 411 (v6)

v6 ?
is that a typo?

[kfitzgerald]

The theory that the change from Bristol engines to Chrysler engines
undermines the engineering does not take into account the engineering
skills of Chrysler. Having owned a number of cars, including Chryslers,
I can say that not all American V-8s are the same. The emissions
standards of the 70's killed Ford and GM's v8s. Chryslers were not in
the same problem of losing all power.
As far as putting something into a 403, there was an Arnolt Bristol that
had a Triumph 6 and gear box installed without cutting up the frame. I
believe it was a TR6 engine and box. Kevin

[bkz411]

The (v6) was a typo - should have been "series 6", the first/only one ever
made.

[Kevin H]

Originally Posted by bkz411

The (v6) was a typo - should have been "series 6", the first/only one ever
made.

It may be the only one referred to as the S6, but it's not the first full rebuild and modernisation/upgrade Bristol have done. Back in he late 1990's they did this one which was also converted to LHD in the process.