Blenheim Production Numbers

Geoff Dowdle · #1 (**permalink**) 15-07-17, 11:47 AM

Alan,
The Blenheim in NZ as far as I can find out is a Blenheim 3 .
Chassis TTBL399168874
Silver with Black trim
Exported in Feb 2000 , but I don't know if it was direct to New Zealand .

Registered in NZ June 2001 "ACU206"

I have not seen the car , do you have a photo of it that you can post on the forum??

Geoff Dowdle
Sydney Australia

PS
you should join the BOC of Australia on one of our events or meetings which are held regularly in Sydney .
But you won't see a Blenheim , they are mostly early 6 cylinder cars.
You would be most welcome.

Geoff Kingston · #2 (**permalink**) 16-07-17, 12:30 AM

The numbers for the Blenheim 3 don't stack up as far as the 'knowledgable' trade in the UK are saying, their view is eight or nine cars so where are the other 8 nor 9 coming from?

AlanD · #3 (**permalink**) 16-07-17, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geoff Kingston

The numbers for the Blenheim 3 don't stack up as far as the 'knowledgable' trade in the UK are saying, their view is eight or nine cars so where are the other 8 nor 9 coming from?

I do not believe for a second that the figure of eight or nine Blenheim's being produced is correct. Just recently one UK classic car dealer had 4 different Blenheim's for sale at one time.

Unfortunately, I do not have a photo of the silver Blenheim I saw in downtown Auckland. I was about 20 meters away from it so had a good look, but this was in the days before smart phones with cameras. I must have seen the car a year or two after it arrived in NZ.

As to its series number I can only tell you that Mr Crook told me it was a Series 2, I do remember that quite clearly, perhaps it was the last of the series 2 cars, or Mr Crook was in error?

I am glad this thread has been revived.

Regards

Alan David
Sydney

Geoff Dowdle · #4 (**permalink**) 16-07-17, 11:50 AM

The figures I mentioned earlier are from the BOC and other sources .
All with chassis numbers recorded .
My revised counts are
B1 6
B2 8
B3 24
B3S 1
B Special 1
B4S 1

It just show how " knowledgeable " the knowledgeable trade is !!!

Geoff D

Geoff Kingston · #5 (**permalink**) 16-07-17, 06:37 PM

Alan,
I can only go on what I was told by one of the owners and what I have seen mentioned as production figures by some of the dealers or brokers who have had Blenheim 3's for sale over the last twelve months, this is where the figure of 8 or 9 cars came from. One at least has had a number change between sales and while it would be nice to think they were more about I find it hard to accept that there was suddenly a three fold leap in production for the last model especially as they seemed to have stopped building them a few years before the company failed but if Geoff's sources are good then that is good news for anyone looking to buy one, I nearly did earlier in the year but decided to renovate my 411 series 3 instead.
The car made a very interesting comparison with my 603 and performance wise seemed to sit mid way between that and the 411, might still take the plunge one day.
Geoff.

Having just looked at the BOC data base for the Blenheim they currently have 23 listed in total made up of
B1 3
B2 7
B3 8
B3S 3
B3SP 1
B4 1

The car I looked at incidently was a 3 but one of the 'knowledgeable' dealers had suggested it might have been an S due to the specification, it is still among the 8 B3's listed with the BOC but not with it current owner.

irienz · #6 (**permalink**) 17-07-17, 03:51 AM

[quote=Geoff Dowdle;8940]
The Blenheim in NZ as far as I can find out is a Blenheim 3 .
Chassis TTBL399168874
Silver with Black trim
Exported in Feb 2000, but I don't know if it was direct to New Zealand.

Registered in NZ June 2001 "ACU206"

The Blenheim 3 may still be in New Zealand. I have not seen it or its owner for some time but the owner did not live here permanently (although the car did). At one point the owner and i lived in the same apartment building in Auckland and my 411 and the Blenheim used to park within a few metres of each other. I do not know whether it was exported directly or the owner took delivery in England and then privately exported it, but Bristol Cars gave the impression when referring to it, that it had been exported.

AlanD · #7 (**permalink**) 17-07-17, 10:17 AM

Geoff K, I see you note 1 B3SP and Geoff D you list 1 B Special.

Is the same car and if so what is it exactly ?

irenenz, its a small small world two different Bristol's in the same apartment building car park in Auckland, owned by two different people!

Regards

Alan David
Sydney

Laurent B · #8 (**permalink**) 25-07-17, 09:55 AM

Thank you for the informations !

You can see the results of my investigations here. I am preparing an update version in English. Please correct if you think I made mistakes.

Geoff Kingston · #9 (**permalink**) 25-07-17, 03:30 PM

Alan
Sorry to confuse you I got carried away typing numbers I should have put B SP 1 not B3SP 1, this is I suspect the same car as that Geoff D listed as B special 1 and has been owned from new by Simon Draper, it is pictured in the LJK Setright book he published, A Private Car and I think you will also find some photographs on this site in a previous posting relating to Simon Drapers Blenheim.
If I remember correctly the car suffered minor front end damage quite early in its life and the owner took the opportunity not only to have the front end, grill lights and spoiler remodelled to his own requirements but also extensive internal modifications to the dash incorporating a lot of Rolls Royce or Bentley switchgear.
Geoff.

AlanD · #10 (**permalink**) 26-07-17, 10:15 AM

Laurent B

What s great site, clearly the best site on Belnheims by a county mile. I look forward to the English version, in due course. Will have a good look through it on the week end, no doubt will have a few questions.

Great job!

Regards

Alan

irienz · #11 (**permalink**) 07-08-17, 06:28 AM

Re:

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlanD

irenenz, its a small small world two different Bristol's in the same apartment building car park in Auckland, owned by two different people!

Alan,

I can go one better!

About a year later, I moved my 411 to it present garage in a small mews in central Auckland. Not long afterwards, a friend moved into the next door house and garage with the only other 411 Series 4 in New Zealand. Both cars lived in garages a few feet apart until he moved to Dunedin. A photo taken on moving day showing both cars is still my Facebook cover photo ....

Chris Browne
Auckland, New Zealand

Laurent B · #12 (**permalink**) 10-10-18, 01:37 PM

A reader of my blog found the first Blenheim !

bristol blenheim - the first - Classic Car Photos

Its current registration is FJL100. This numberplate was first registered on April 1983. So the first Blenheim is perhaps a prototype based on a secondhand car !