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Bristol Cars, favoured manufacturer of LJK Setright, and creator of the singularly high quality Blenheim, Blenheim Speedster and Series 6, as well as the amazing V10-powered Fighter, is fighting for survival after the administrators were called in. The company, now led by Toby Silverton, had been struggling to sell new cars in an increasingly hostile market, through its Kensington showroom.
Tom MacLennan and Trevor Binyon of the administrators RSM Tenon have been appointed to handle Bristol, and is hoping to find a new owner for the company, and continue running it as a going concern. According to the BBC, 22 redundancies have been made in the aftermath of the announcement.
Mr MacLennan assured owners that sales and service operations would be maintained while new owners were sought. 'We would urge any interested parties to make contact with us as quickly as possible and are confident that we can secure the future of this iconic British brand,' he said.
The company was formed immediately after World War Two when the Bristol Aeroplane Company Limited decided to enter the car-making business and acquired the rights to the various pre-war BMW models. By 1948, it was building the streamlined, fast and luxurious 403 using aviation principles of construction.
The prestige machines continued thereafter, being expensively handmade in small numbers for well-heeled customers. Chrysler V8 engines were introduced with the 407 of 1961. All Bristols are known for being somewhat eccentric, and have a similarly single-minded following.
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