Does anyone has information on this car?

[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.

[Kevin H]

Originally Posted by GREG

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 !

It's not really the wheels that make the difference, apart from allowing wider tyres. But the width, type/tread and the pressure of the tyre can make a big difference. Probably the age of the tyre as well. There are many signifcant variables.

It would be really interesting to test some of these cars against one another in "as new" condition, but that's never going to happen.

Originally Posted by Aleph

I would rather spend it on a 410 411 when one comes by as I like the shape more.

Good decision

[lord sward]

I'm also following this sale. I've got to say, rusty suspension doesn't bother me in the slightest from experience on other 'barn finds' I've had, but I do not know about the rest of the car; I neither trust photos nor have any experience of the model to bid here.

I find the 603 to be a really interesting model and one I wish to purchase, but Exeter from Newcastle is quite a hike. I also note that this is the 3rd Bristol the vendor has sold in just over 2 weeks. Is he expecting a crash in values with the demise of the company?

I look forward to seeing the auction result.

[Janne]

A little bit of rust is to be expected, but that car looks like it had a weekly bath!
"Drystored" ????

[Philip]

Originally Posted by Janne

A little bit of rust is to be expected, but that car looks like it had a weekly bath!
"Drystored" ????

It's in the UK, looks exactly as you'd expect.