Did Bristols modify the Torqueflight

[Roger Morrall]

David C, Kevin H

Thanks for your responses

Mine was a 410, built 1968.

Yes, it would kick down into 1st gear if the pedal was floored at an appropriate speed, entirely in accordance with the handbook - that is not the issue I’m trying to get my head around.

When 1st gear was selected on a trailing throttle it would only engage 1st gear after I’d brought the speed down to about 6 mph on the brakes. This is not in accord with the Chrysler literature, which indicates that when 1st is selected it should engage 1st when the speed is down to about 30mph. My recollection is that the Bristol drivers handbook did not match the Chrysler literature in this regard.

I did not become aware of the Chrysler literature on how the torqueflight was expected to perform until after I sold the car on in order that it could enjoy the travels it had become accustomed to. I am somewhat curtailed in regard to long distance travel now but my interest in things Bristol remains and my curiosity is aroused.

The car was as well maintained as it could be, by BCS, SL-J and ACCS, none of whom ever suggested that the gearbox characteristics weren’t in any way up to Bristol standards. It bore the original engine and gearbox numbers. ACCS rebuilt the gearbox after the torque converter failed. I owned it for 20 years and it took us as far as Morocco, Transylvania and Montenegro and most points in between, very often the only V8 on Geoffs Travels, so I knew it inside out.

Roger