Tag Archives: Sunday Service

Clash Of The Eccentrics – Bristol 412 S1

In 1975 Bristol replaced it’s 411 model with the 603 featuring a completely new body, a second new car was scheduled to appear on Bristol’s Earle Court Motor Show stand in October 1975 however despite pre event publicity the targa topped 412 model featured today was not ready and so did not appear as promised in the press.

Bristol 412 S2, Pistonheads Sunday Service, BMW Plant, Cowley

The 412 has been described as a clash of automotive eccentrics by some commentators because the body was designed and built by no less an eccentric company than Carrozzeria Zagato wih whom Bristol’s Tony Crook had earlier worked as their UK Concessionaire and Importer. The distinctive head light clusters appear to have been sourced from the second generation Opel Commodore.

Bristol 412 S2, Pistonheads Sunday Service, BMW Plant, Cowley

The first Series 412’s were built with the 300 hp 6.6 litre / 400 cui Chrysler B series V8’s but the second series introduced in late 1977 were fitted with the smaller 5.9 litre / 361 cui Chrysler motor.

Bristol 412 S2, Pistonheads Sunday Service, BMW Plant, Cowley

Series 2 412’s have front suspension modifications as a result of the lighter motor, improved ventilation for the cabin and redesigned seats. From the date of first registration, March 1977, and engine size it would appear today’s car, seen at a Pistonheads Sunday Service meeting held at the BMW Plant in Cowley a couple of years ago, is a Series 1 412.

Bristol 412 S2, Pistonheads Sunday Service, BMW Plant, Cowley

Apparently when Tony Crook went to see the the prototype 412 at Zagato it featured an even bluffer front end and was some 18 foot long, before Tony intervened.

Bristol 412 S2, Pistonheads Sunday Service, BMW Plant, Cowley

The appearance of the 412 divides opinion like few others, as can be seen on this linked Pistonheads thread, one either gets Bristol ethos or one does not their is little middle ground.

Bristol 412 S2, Pistonheads Sunday Service, BMW Plant, Cowley

In 1982 the 412 was fitted with a turbocharger and slightly face lifted which included twinned headlight clusters and called the Beaufighter production of around 27 of these continued until 1993. It is thought just one export only fully convertible versions of the Beaufighter with an electric roof, known as the Beaufort were built along with two non turbocharged US spec 412 known as the 412USAs.

Bristol 412 S2, Pistonheads Sunday Service, BMW Plant, Cowley

It is thought 24 412 Series 1’s were built and 34 Series 2 412’s. Of the 88 Targa tops and one Convertible it is thought 76% are still extent.

Thanks for joining me on this ” Clash Of The Eccentrics” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at something a little more agricultural. Don’t forget to come back now !

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2011 GALPOT Review #3 – Motoring Events

This week I am reviewing the GALPOT year 2011, on Monday I looked at some of the Museums I have visited and yesterday I looked at some of the Concours d’Elegance events covered on GALPOT thanks to Geoffrey Horton, today I am reviewing some the motoring events I have attended which includes any gathering short of a full blown racing.

Bristol 405 Drophead, Pistonheads Sunday Service

By the end of January cabin fever was setting in and I leaped at the opportunity to go to my first Pistonheads Sunday Service which was convened at the BMW Plant car park just outside Oxford. I am not sure how many people attended but I was pleased to see several Bristol’s including this 405 Drophead.

de Tomaso Mangusta, BIAMF

April sees Bristol host it’s Annual Italian Auto Moto Festival a display of all things Italian on two and four wheels. Despite the presence of a fabulous array of red Friday cars the undoubted star of this years festival for me was the Cobra killing de Tomaso Mangusta.

Hesketh 308B, Silverstone Classic

I managed to make two trips to Silverstone this year the first for the Silverstone Classic Press Day which was a testing session with a veritable armada of Press Corps present. Star of the day was the Hesketh 308B the same chassis that James Hunt drove to Hesketh’s only Grand Prix victory at the Dutch Grand Prix in 1975.

March 71B, CGA Engineering

Tony ‘Giraffe’ Gallagher from The Nostalgia Forum kindly organized a trip to CGA Engineering in Warrington where former Lotus employee Colin Bennett and his sons were workong wonders with racing cars spanning the late 1960’s to the early 1990’s including the Formula 2 spec March 71B chassis above decked out in Vick’s livery in tribute to Ronnie Peterson.

Hillman Tiger Replica, Castle Combe C&SCAD

Thanks to the generosity of David Roots from the Bath & West Car Club I received an invitation to attend the Classic and Sports Car Action Day at Castle Combe. A tight schedule meant I focused my attention entirely on the vehicles in the car park including this Hillman Avenger Tiger Replica.

Morgan 3 Wheeler, Morgan Factory

If your a fan of simple joys, it hard to believe that you will not leap at the chance to jump in the dinky little Morgan 3 Wheeler at some point in your life, I saw this one several times during the course of the year at, Silverstone, Goodwood and during several visits to the Morgan factory.

Morgan SLR, Silverstone Classic

A hectic July weekend saw me pop into the Silverstone Classic for the first of the three days of entertainment, I probably saw more cars in action and photographed more than in any single day in my entire life that Friday. Among the many revelations was this Morgan Triumph SLR which I mistook for some unknown Italian exotica on the day, unfortunately all the action I saw was qualification sessions, I’ll try and make more time for the event in 2012. Many thanks to garyfrogeye amongst many others who helped me out by contacting Mr John Sprinzel who along with the recently departed Chris Lawrence was responsible for this masterpiece of British craftsmanship.

Riley & Ford Ranger, Mallory Park

If I had my way every Wednesday I’d be up at the crack of dawn, sometimes earlier, and head 125 miles north to Mallory Park for the finest full English, breakfast, that money can buy and enjoy a veritable pot puree of vehicles being run in and tested around the track. Sadly this year I only made it the twice but it was worth it, where else could I see a vintage Riley being driven flat out next to a spec series Ford Ranger ?

Lafitte 5CV, Rare Breeds, Haynes IMM

Thanks to another tip from David Roots I made a, very long, diversion on my way from Bristol to the airport to the Haynes International Motor Museum to see the Rare Breeds show. I was not disappointed, I still have many of the vehicles I saw that day to blog about in the coming month. Above is a rotary 3 cylinder motor that tilts to engage the clutch of the Lafitte 5 CV.

Brooklands, William Boddy,

Among many firsts in 2011 I managed a visit to the worlds first purpose built motor racing venue, Brooklands which dates to 1907 and sadly fell into disuse in 1939 with the onset of World War 2. I was there for the William Boddy Tribute Meeting to honor a journalist who was in part responsible for realizing my own passion for all things motoring and who did much to help save what is left of the Brooklands track today. One of the highlights of my motoring year was seeing a handful of cars from Brooklands heyday being driven over the crumbling but none the less hallowed concrete.

Berkley B105, Dyrham Park

The day after Brooklands I visited Dyrham Park which used to be a Hill climb venue in the 1960’s where a demonstration of vehicles that were and would have been, entered in the original events took place. Unfortunately today’s safety requirements make it quite impossible for a modern competitive event to take place at Dyrham Park but it was wonderful to see so many cars being driven with a modicum of spirit up the hill.

Unfortunately my hard drive went on tilt after my visits to Brooklands and Dyrham Park so I will not be able to post any further images from these two events.

Simca, Oulton Park

A couple of weeks ago I was near Manchester for a TNF meeting with my friend Tim who had never been to Oulton Park before, so we made the short diversion from a friends house and found a track day in progress, one of the star vehicles was this 130 hp Simca 1000 which once belonged to Frank Breidenstein – President of ”Simca Heckmotor (rear engine) Deutschland”.

My sincerest thanks to everyone who made these adventures and the blogs that came form them possible, not least Tim who is both a fountain of useful information and a handy map reader.

Thanks for joining me on this events edition of ‘Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres’, I hope you’ll join me for a review of 2011’s racing action tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

PS Don’t forget …

Automobiliart GALPOT Seasonal Quiz

Automobiliart, Paul Chenard

December 26th – January 2nd

Win a set of Paul Chenard Greetings Cards

Sports-GT cars set, Paul Chenard

Set 1 Sports & GT Cars

Phil Hill, Sharknose Ferrari Set, Paul Chenard

Set 2 Phil Hill World Drivers Championship 50th Anniversary Edition

1934 GP Season Card set, Paul Chenard

Set 3 1934 Season

1950s Grand Prix Engines

Set 4 Grand Prix Engines of the 1950’s

or

Mike Hawtorns racecars Card set, Paul Chenard

Set 5 Mike Hawthorn’s Race Cars

The Automobiliart GALPOT Seasonal Quiz will comprise 8 categories.

Overall winner chooses one set of Paul Chenard Greetings Cards from the five sets shown above.

The cards measure 15.24cm x 11.43cm, come in packs of 12 with 3 copies of 4 designs in each set, plus A6 envelopes.

Which set will you choose ?

The free to enter Automobiliart GALPOT Seasonal Quiz will run from December 26th – January 2nd Entries close January 8th 2012, Winner announced January 16th 2012.

Full details on December 26th at GALPOT.

Looking for Automotive Seasonal Gift Idea’s? Visit Automobiliart Now !

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