Any suggestions for alternatives to a Bristol?

[Richard Levine]

eeerrrhhhh Kevin, what size are the 4 adults which you are carrying in comfort in a Bristol? I am on my third Bristol, but none have managed to accommodate 4 normal sized adults in comfort. 2 yes, but 4, never.

[Ashley James]

The Jensen CV8 MKIII has the 6.75 Litre engine, is beautifully made,
looks astonishing and is a hoot to drive. It's my favourite of all
the US engined Europeans, although the Facel Vega is a pretty
amazing coachbuilt car too. The detail work in stainless steel is
very clever indeed.

Ashley

[Markus Berzborn]

As for the SLC, on longer journeys the back seats are only suitable for children really.
Anyway, I would recommend the 500 SLC with the aluminium 5 litre engine rather than the 450 SLC.
And people needing more spaciness should consider the succeeding SEC line. Although this is an entirely different car in character - more comfort-oriented.

Regards,
Markus

[jimfoz]

Originally Posted by Markus Berzborn

As for the SLC, on longer journeys the back seats are only suitable for children really.
Anyway, I would recommend the 500 SLC with the aluminium 5 litre engine rather than the 450 SLC.
And people needing more spaciness should consider the succeeding SEC line. Although this is an entirely different car in character - more comfort-oriented.

Regards,
Markus

Actually even better for rarity would be the 450SLC 5.0 - I think they only made a few hundred before it became the more obviously named 500SLC.

[Kevin H]

I have no idea what they cost, but I'll also offer the Glas V8 (2.6 or 3 litre). Otherwise known as the "Glaserati".

[Markus Berzborn]

Kevin, I can tell you that in Germany a good one costs more than 35,000 Euros.
But as you probably know, Glas went out of business decades ago (bought by BMW), so with no existing company backing the vehicle you really depend on marque clubs and so on if you want to drive such a car on a regular basis.

Regards,
Markus

[potential]

Originally Posted by Kevin Howard

I'll also offer the Glas V8

Lovely car - BMW took them over I think, not sure they ever made RHD though.

On the subject of German rareties - perhaps a Bitter CD (again, if I could find one)

[Markus Berzborn]

Originally Posted by potential

On the subject of German rareties - perhaps a Bitter CD (again, if I could find one)

This car is still quite affordable.

It has nice looks and solid GM mechanics, but it is really only a two-seater and it looks faster and sportier than it actually is.

I like the dashboard of the car, which is very similar to the Opel Diplomat of the period. This was a big car with the same American 5.4 litre V8 as the Bitter, intended to compete with the Mercedes S-Class. Although nowadays the model portfolio of Vauxhall and Opel is practically the same, the Diplomat had no equivalent in the Vauxhall range of the time, as far as I'm informed. Actually, the Diplomat was a rather good car (I remember it from my childhood and youth) but it did not sell because of the marque image. People who could spend that much money mostly preferred Mercedes-Benz or BMW back then.

The Bitter CD (CD stands for "Coupé Diplomat" actually) often had plush velours seats inside. Its appeal is really very much "seventies" from today's point of view.

Regards,
Markus

[Kevin H]

Originally Posted by Ashley James

The Jensen CV8 MKIII has the 6.75 Litre engine, is beautifully made,
looks astonishing and is a hoot to drive. It's my favourite of all
the US engined Europeans, although the Facel Vega is a pretty
amazing coachbuilt car too. The detail work in stainless steel is
very clever indeed.

Ashley

But would you get a good one of either of those for GBP15k ?

Originally Posted by Stuart

Interesting that Alfa doesn't seem to have featured in this thread?
Stuart

Given the initial post I thought we were only considering cars in the 1960s and 70s that were comparable to a V8 Bristol. Did Alfa make anything that fitted that criteria?

[potential]

Originally Posted by Kevin Howard

Did Alfa make anything that fitted that criteria?

I can't think of anything from Alfa that's a direct competitor, the Montreal appeals but I'd have to be completely mad to buy one

Originally Posted by Peter.Kent

Other suggestions: keep with Lancia. The Gamma was a fantastic car, whether in Berlinetta or Coupe mode. Either look great. Fantastic handling, more than adequate performance from the 2.5 flat 4. Early ones shed cam belts but I think the design was put right with the fuel injected models. It's the last true Lancia. Those that followed were Fiats. Wouldn't cost a lot either. Peter

I do love the external shape of the Gamma Coupé but I'm not sure I'd enjoy staring at that dash board every day.

Speaking of Fiats, the 130 Coupé looks like a lovely car.

[Kevin H]

Originally Posted by Richard Levine

eeerrrhhhh Kevin, what size are the 4 adults which you are carrying in comfort in a Bristol? I am on my third Bristol, but none have managed to accommodate 4 normal sized adults in comfort. 2 yes, but 4, never.

Ah, you got me there Richard, I guess I was quoting the old marketing hype!

My 411 has been off the road for the last eight years and only ever once carried adults in the back that I can remember. Not that there were any complaints, but the passengers were female and it was a short trip. I guess it depends on the height of the driver and front passenger as well.

It's all relative though. Of the cars mentioned none of them would have any more leg room that a V8 Bristol, and several would have considerably less.

The only cars I can think of with really generous room in the back have been long wheelbase versions of more modern cars.

[Peter.Kent]

I had a Scimiter. Prefer the look of the earlier GTE over the later
Cologne engined model. Handles well. Enough grunt. Seats 4 at a bit of a
pinch. Downsides are that they leak around the back window. Unless fixed,
all of them overheat (there is a simple cure) I remember going to a
meeting and noticing that everybody arriving popped the bonnet for a bit
of extra ventilation as soon as they stopped! I became adept at changing
warped cylinder heads. Fibreglass body is difficult to maintain to
concours standard. I think they get tired. Last time I asked, parts were
not a problem.
Lancia Flavia: beautiful car. But the flat 4 is a bit slow. The bodies rust
terribly and electric are a nightmare. I guess that spares would be a
problem particularly in England where so few were sold. (Colin Dexter told
me that he knows absolutely nothing about cars and it was a friend who told
him that an eccentric like Morse should have a Lancia Flavia ... and that is
the car that features in the early Morse novels. The Jag which appears in
the films was purely the inspiration of the film producers.)
Rover: agree with Kevin that the coupe looks fine. Used to have an early
six cylinder which was dreadfully slow and thirsty. The V8 much better
from that point of view but it's still a big old car. Awful rust around
the wings. Handling? If you've ever been on a canal barge you'll know the
feeling!
Mercedes: I know nothing.
Other suggestions: keep with Lancia. The Gamma was a fantastic car, whether
in Berlinetta or Coupe mode. Either look great. Fantastic handling, more
than adequate performance from the 2.5 flat 4. Early ones shed cam belts but
I think the design was put right with the fuel injected models. It's the
last true Lancia. Those that followed were Fiats. Wouldn't cost a lot
either. Peter

[Markus Berzborn]

Originally Posted by Kevin Howard

The only cars I can think of with really generous room in the back have been long wheelbase versions of more modern cars.

I currently use a Daimler Double Six of the last generation in the long wheelbase version. This is what I call generous legroom in the back.
But still, it's problematic for people of more than 1.90 m because of the classic Jaguar roofline. I guess this is why the current XJ is considerably higher - but has lost this special appeal.

The optimum for rear seat passengers would probably be a RR Phantom (old or new) or something like that.

Regards,
Markus

[jimfoz]

Originally Posted by Markus Berzborn

I currently use a Daimler Double Six of the last generation in the long wheelbase version. This is what I call generous legroom in the back.
But still, it's problematic for people of more than 1.90 m because of the classic Jaguar roofline. I guess this is why the current XJ is considerably higher - but has lost this special appeal.

The optimum for rear seat passengers would probably be a RR Phantom (old or new) or something like that.

Regards,
Markus

Any of the LWB S-classes had very good rear legroom and they are still 'cheap as chips' for a relatively good one unless you go for the 6.9 or 6.3 variants

[Markus Berzborn]

Well sure, the S class is fine. And relatively easy to maintain, at least over here in Germany. Spare parts are also readily available and not very expensive.
If I lived in Britain, I probably would have an S class. But I just don't like seeing the same car at every corner. They are just too common here. I think in England, it's probably the other way round - the XJ is common and the S class exclusive.
One of my neighbours has a 6.9 in very good condition with all options. But it seems he is not really able or willing to afford the maintenance. He only registered it again last year when it achieved "vintage status" (in Germany you can apply for that for cars older than 30 years, it means taxes are significantly lower then) and even so rarely uses it. Fuel consumption is really high for today's standards. Anyway, I personally prefer the 6.3 because of its classic body shape. The 6.9 is a bit too ostentatious for my taste.

Regards,
Markus

[Jervaulx]

Markus, i live in Manchester in England and the Mercedes S-class, as well
as other models is a very common car in Manchester. The Jaguar XJ is a
rarer car here as it has a bad image, too much of an old mans car i hear
and lacks sophistication. I do like the S-class though.

Andrew

[Markus Berzborn]

Lacks sophistication?
That's funny. I think the ride in an XJ series X300 is still excellent, concerning the comfort aspect. Certainly better than in an S class up to and including the W126 series.
For me, the Double Six was not planned as an everyday transport but then it turned out that it is so much more fun to drive than the E class (current model) that I use it very often, regardless of the fuel consumption which is twice the E class. Although the comparison is a bit unfair, as it is only the E 220.

By the way, what is the image of Bristol in Britain, i.e. for people who even heared about the marque?

Regards,
Markus