BMW
It’s a little-known story but Bristol Cars saved BMW of Germany from ruin in the years after the Second World War. Bristol Cars and BMW are rivals today in the dignified but ferocious market for luxury, up-market cars. But they were once partners and, according to one of BMW’s most famous designers, could have produced a world-beater together.
BMW — it stands for the German equivalent of Bavarian Motor Works — started making aircraft engines and motorcycles — and British Austin Sevens under licence! But its own cars, especially the sports models, were classics. The Second World War left BMW in ruins and its factories split by the division of Germany into East and West. It might have folded — except for Bristol Cars.
Bristol Cars of Filton is one of Britain's last independent manufacturers. It is also one of the smallest and most secretive of automakers.
Nobody outside the firm is allowed into the factory at Filton airport near the city of Bristol in western England and its long-term figurehead Tony Crook (who ran the firm singlehanded until recently) never releases details of sales figures or owners, many of whom are tycoons and celebrities.
However Tina Turner and former US president Jimmy Carter are said to be customers. Essentially, Bristol has been building the same car for more than 50 years with occasional changes of body style, model name and engines, which have been supplied by Chrysler since 1961 Bristol has been building the same car for more than 50 years with occasional changes of body style
.
Please feel free to add your own comments to the Guestbook or Forum
Memories of Bristol over the past 100 years including 3000 photographs on-line
This non commercial 'hobby' site, has been evolving and expanding on line since 2001 and is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only.
