Practically Classics Forum

An old name goes under: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-12645501 sadly there no longer appear to be enough rich eccentrics around requiring something a little different.

I've always wanted one of these but never had the money and don't suppose I ever will but for anyone with a huge sack of notes there might still be the odd unsold series 6 on offer ( I wonder if they ever sold any) although I always liked the 412 best.

It's a crying shame, I too always fancied a Bristol.

But in a way, they kept themselves so far away from the Motoring press, rarely (if ever) allowing full evaluation by a press team etc, that many people I know did'nt even realise Bristol was still going.

One dealership in central london would'nt have helped either, even though it did keep there sales and service rep to a standard that was classed as "More Rolls Royce than Rolls Royce".

Unfortunately for the likes of the gov't, it's not even a blip on there radar, what was it some one once said about selling off /allowing stuff to die off?

Knowing the Price of everything but the not the value?

Is this the last nail in the coffin of completely British Motor Manufacturing? ( and I mean making things not designing them on a damn screen)

I've always had a soft spot for Bristol, having been driven to my wedding reception in a 401. They were an anachronism though, and I'm surprised they've lasted as long as they have but it's sad to see another great name bite the dust.

A sad day but perhaps not entirely surprising. We live in a pretty tasteless, ostentatious society and the Bristol was just too refined. Added to that, unless something is endorsed by magazines, people don't want it (I don't think the vast majority of the public can make up their own minds). If Bristols had been able to throw vast sums at an advertising campaign, this may not have happened; magazines are always happy to endorse the products of big advertisers. Having said that, a TV advert for a Bristol would have been interesting, judging by the abstract nature of most; I can't really see how you get over the message of superb craftsmanship, by driving a car, slowly down a street, where the bystanders all look as if they are out of their minds on drugs .

As to our politicians, they've let the rest of British industry go to the wall; what's new. Perhaps the Chinese will buy it and rename it Blistol.

What a shame