Bristol Cars A Very British Story

Author: Christopher Balfour, ISBN: 9781844254071, Harbound, 452 Pages

For over 60 years a team of talented engineers and craftsmen have been building Bristol cars in a small factory to the north of the city. This handsome book, written by a lifelong Bristol devotee, tells the whole story in remarkable detail, from the very beginnings of this unique enterprise right up to the present day.
Bristol's hand-built cars are appreciated by a discerning fraternity of enthusiasts for their performance, handling, reliability, longevity and everyday practicality. These enthusiasts prefer their cars to benefit from evolutionary improvement rather than frequent design change. They savour the special driver experience that comes from good balance and careful positioning of controls.

This fascinating history of Bristol cars records more than a century of British engineering and transport achievement. The book chronicles the efforts of the Car Division's founding families - the Aldingtons, Verdon-Smiths and Whites - and examines the political and policy reasons behind the fact that Bristol did not become a bigger force in the motor industry. Tony Crook's role, from his early experiences with Bristol cars and onwards to his long period of successful ownership and management after Sir George White's accident, is fully described. The book concludes with Toby Silverton's arrival and his ownership and management today. The authoritative, lavishly illustrated text includes comments from current owners, competition successes, practical guidance on purchase, maintenance and restoration, and specifications of all models.

About the Author

Christopher Balfour's family were also transport pioneers, their post-war efforts also affected by politics, in their case by nationalisation. Solace came for the author with the purchase of his first Bristol, a 400, in 1961. He then worked for local government employment services, frequently visiting factories in the Midlands and elsewhere. In time he was elected as an independent councillor, much concerned with efforts to alleviate unemployment. In the nearly 50 years since that early purchase he has been soothed and heartened by the constant use of both six-cylinder and V8-engined Bristols, an experience he recommends to others. This is his fourth book.