Out Of Administration; New Owner - Frazer Nash

[jimfoz]

I have just remembered - Bristol used to be agent for Zagato in the 70's selling their boxy Zele electric car so there is kind of an historic connection with electric power I suppose.....

[TBC]

In many ways the combination of Bristol Cars and the technology available within the Frazer-Nash Group makes good business sense, as long as FNG have the resourses to develop the cars.

Just imagine an 190mph electrically powered Fighter, virtually zero emissions so no road fund to pay, vastly reduced running costs, no congestion charge to pay and maybe even a reduction in servicing due to fewer moving parts.

Now look at the potential sales oppotunity for such a vehicle in California, where Toyota sell thousands of Prius, I am sure a switched on company could sell a few dozen supercars to the stars.

Yes, yes I appreciate that some of you would shudder at the thought, but, you didn't fork out for the company and won't have to pay the development costs for future models.

There is also the possibility that an electric Blenheim replacement may even make business sense, if there is enough interest amongst the afluent in Europe, the green lobby being what it is in Germany, and none of the Major players there currently offering an alternative.

At the end of the day electric power only really makes sense for top line cars due to the unit costs, look at the Tesla, you start with a Lotus Elise, had 50% extra weight, triple the price, and all with no noticable increase in performance.

Using this mix, Bristol may even get close to the heady days at the end of the 1950's when they were making 150 cars a year.....

[browning l]

Originally Posted by jimfoz

I have just remembered - Bristol used to be agent for Zagato in the 70's selling their boxy Zele electric car so there is kind of an historic connection with electric power I suppose.....

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...g/Tobyscar.jpg

Toby's electric London runabout, with my wife, Kaye, on Jermyn Street, after dinner.

[Peter Grace]

What happened to Toby Silverton's bid? Did he not offer enough? Did he offer at all?

[Markus Berzborn]

Yes, if we can believe Car Magazine:

Kamkorp Autokraft beat off rival bids from Toby Silverton, owner of Bristol Cars before it slid into administration, and CPP, the company that owns Spyker Cars and Land Rover racing specialist Bowler.

Bristol Cars is sold to Frazer-Nash | Automotive & Motoring News | Car Magazine Online

Regards,
Markus

[Peter Grace]

Thanks Marcus

[The Baron]

I quite like this. Try as I might I cannot see a future where Bristol stayed as it was and I cannot see a credible future for the Fighter either.
Bristol have always inhabited the quirky end of the market and F-N are playing with some pretty quirky concepts.
I can't help but think there is a niche out there for this sort of thing provided they keep pricing sensible.
Finally, both brands do share a little bit of DNA so it's not an entirely contrived marriage.

I just hope they don't bank the brand and liquidate the business long term. It's not like they are a volume car manufacturer is it.

[Markus Berzborn]

I just wonder - why has noone here ever mentioned the Blenheim Speedster/Roadster?

Isn't it just a hilarious car?
So much classier than Wiesmann or the more modern Morgans.

Regards,
Markus