Bristol Cars: doubts around the British brand’s future

Doubts have been cast around the comeback of Bristol Vehicles, immediately after a firm of insolvency practitioners stated it did not recognize how planned “continuation designs” will be developed due to challenges relating to intellectual residence rights (IPR).

The rebirth of Bristol was introduced in early Could 2021, and with it plans for eight “remastered” autos, which would be developed “next the acquisition of intellectual residence rights” relating to the Bristol Fighter, Speedster and 411 Series 8. These continuation autos would cost upwards of £495,000 just about every, and be equipped with  6.4-litre Chrysler Hemi V8 and eight–speed ZF automated gearbox. 

A firm of insolvency practitioners has given that place out statement, however, casting question around the feasibility of this action. Talking of the unique heading the relaunch, the liquidators stated: “we can categorically condition that while he has purchased sure tooling and spares at an auction of the company’s belongings, he has not purchased any IPR.”

The firm carries on: “What he has accomplished is sought to revoke some BCL [Bristol Vehicles Minimal] trade marks for want of use. Such action has been objected to by us as Joint Liquidators of BCL and by Kamkorp Autokraft Minimal, the operator of the trade marks in issue.”  

The liquidators include that the unique behind the proposed relaunch “has not obtained the specialized drawings” they deem would be vital for the continuation designs to be developed. 

Bristol Vehicles emerged in 1945 from the Bristol Aeroplane Business, and occupied a rarefied market placement hand-developing luxurious autos for nicely-heeled traditionalists. Afterwards designs typically featured massive V8 engines and TorqueFlite automated gearboxes from Chrysler. 

Bristol relished combined accomplishment around the many years, switching possession on additional than one celebration. The firm’s most current motor vehicle was 2004’s Fighter, which experienced gull-wing doorways, a 8.-litre V10 engine shared with the Dodge Viper, and boasted a reputed major speed of 210mph.

Bristol is arguably one of the additional idiosyncratic English motor vehicle makers. The firm bought its autos from a solitary dealership on Kensington Large Avenue, London, at rates that were being commensurate with autos from increased-volume luxurious makers with additional generous  enhancement budgets.

Afterwards Bristols were being lavish and highly effective grand tourers, with leather and wooden interiors blended with practical functions such as quickly obtainable spare wheels concealed beneath their front wings. Curiosities abounded, however, not the very least precise sales volumes (rumoured to be around one hundred autos in one calendar year), even though the rear lights on the Sort 603, later identified as the Britannia, Brigand and Blenheim, were being shared with a Bedford Van, Vauxhall Senator and Audi A4 around the car’s 35-calendar year lifespan. 

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