Does anyone has information on this car?

[Janne]

As much as I respect Mr Blow, I would choose Mr Spencer Jones, or rather I should say, one of his technicians.
I understand you have experience from complex classic cars, but there are a couple of major differences:
Bristol has an Aluminium skin, which is a pig to properly repair. You can not get after market panels, or find good second hand ones. That is the Negative.
The positive difference is that the Engine and Gearbox are "common" Chrysler/GM bits, so original and aftermarket parts are plentiful, also you can get upgraded parts.
Compared to a Jag engine the Chrysler one is "stone age". Not meaning in a negative way!

I do not want to push you away from your Bristol ownership. You seem to have made your "apprenticeship" on a couple of lesser cars ( and are ready for a Blue blooded car.
You will love the car.

BTW, have you thought of checking out Mr Blow's website?
Personally, I would rather pay more for a running car!

[Apae]

No information on the car I'm afraid, just my opinion on it.
The arches will tak a lot of work, only front left looks unscathed in the (mediocre) pictures. If you know someone in the Netherlands familiar with such work, it is doable. Not really a DIY job.
Boot looks OK, no real rust there. Wires might be the same on all cars, but normally hidden behind the carpet...
Underbody looks like superficial rust, a lot of work and cost to bring up to standard, but not really necessary on a daily driver.
Interior is tidy, but I think I spot a few torn seams and marks on the leather.

All in all, it depends what you're after: a daily in tidy condition, or a car to bring up to concours condition. For the latter, I'm with the others: get a better example to start with. For the first, it's a nice proposition.

Oh, and if you DO know a good aluminium bodyworker, I'd like the address. Our Flaminia touring needs some work too...

[geo]

I have not seen the car for years, but it was certainly smart enough 15 - 20 years ago, but then most of us were in better nick then! It has spent most of its life being owned by members of the BOC.

In the late 1980s (and possibly earlier) it was owned by Richard Timmis in Bishop Stortford, Herts.,

in 1998 the ownership changes to Richard Sheenhan in London, SW1,

changing the following year to Graham Emmett in Northwich, Cheshire,

and the trail ends in 2006 with Bill Skinner in Nottingham.

How it then turns up in Devon is anyone's guess, but the seller's feedback would suggest he finds a fair number of restoration projects.

I was marginally tempted by this car as I want to return to Bristol ownership, but as I cannot get down to Exeter to view it and knowing just how much two friends spent renovating the corrosion in 603s (and there would seem to the casual eye to be a fair bit here — anyone ever found the photographs to be less good than the reality?), I shall sit tight and look on to see what it reaches in this auction.

Good luck bidders

George

[GREG]

Geo, I agree and also get the feeling that if it goes for £10 k that one in better order for £25k would end up working out a LOT cheaper !

I hope whoever bought the 408 from the same dealer is happy ?

I would ask Bristol Car services or ACCS to take a look.

603's drive superb when running right. 411 but better ?

[Kevin H]

The suspension looks VERY rusty!

Originally Posted by GREG

Geo, I agree and also get the feeling that if it goes for £10 k that one in better order for £25k would end up working out a LOT cheaper !

That's all very well if you have £25k! But £10k, or possibly less, could get you into a rolling restoration which you can complete as funds permit.

603's drive superb when running right. 411 but better ?

Why do they drive better than a 411?
Do they have a different chassis? (looks the same to me)

[GREG]

Quote --That's all very well if you have £25k! But £10k, or possibly less, could get you into a rolling restoration which you can complete as funds permit. - Quote

I agree that it's maybe worth a punt at £10 k to improve over time, but It wont cost a lot to get someone that knows to have a look.

Quote --Why do they drive better than a 411?
Do they have a different chassis? (looks the same to me) --Quote

Don't know really, but I would guess they kept upgrading everything.

The Beaufighter of that era seems to handle the best because of the uprated springs and dampers.

I have a 411 and 603 and Beaufighter on the drive and you can feel the evolution and refinement. I had a ride in a Blenheim 4 today and I can assure you that the refinement continued to get a LOT better. Felt as good as my old Mercedes S600 and starting and running on LPG !!

A chassis is only part of a big equation. -- I also have a 1995 London Taxi that looks identical to a 1959 one --- it isn't !! but same chassis :-)

[Kevin H]

Originally Posted by GREG

Don't know really, but I would guess they kept upgrading everything.

The Beaufighter of that era seems to handle the best because of the uprated springs and dampers.

But are you comparing apples with apples in terms of condition and the age of springs, dampers, bushes?

Even tyre type and pressures can effect ride and how they drive. I noticed a significant difference when I changed from the original steel wheels to Avon alloys on my 411. The Avons are wider wheels with wider tyres.

So for example if you compare a 411 with steel wheels to a 603 on Avons alloys that alone will make a difference in how they feel.

To my mind the only way to make a truly objective comparison is to use cars which all have their suspension parts in "as new" condition and are shod with the optimum wheels and tyres.

[GREG]

I agree but the Beaufighter uses different springs to the 411 and changes to wheels and tyres were part of the upgrades over time.

I'm sure that you could add all the bits from the latest Blenheim to a 411 S1 and get it driving just as good, but isn't that a Series 6 ? :-)

Funny enough, next to the Beaufighter my 411 S1 with S2 wheels and 215 tyres handles the best of the 411's , even better than the ones with Avon' wheels on ! But like you say, after 40 years various owners have probably done a lot of tweaking for the good and bad and a set up that is right for me may not be to someone else's taste.

[Aleph]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I have thought about it and decided I will let this one pass. I fear that the cost of mending the corroded bits will be fairly high, and I would rather spend it on a 410 411 when one comes by as I like the shape more.

Funny that a car that has been in forum members' ownership for so long, suddenly dissappears from the radar. I see that hapening sometimes on our Jaguar forum too; a member doesn't find a buyer from the forum and sells it on some site to some anonymous punter. Most of the time, unfortunately, it's the end of solid maintenance for the car...