I love cars, exotic and exclusive cars doubly so, and I was not aware of the Bristol car company of the Great Britain, either as a classic auto or a current purveyor of handmade bespoke automobiles.

While Bristol Cars surely offers more exotic rocket-ship models that are well-flashy and rather vulgar, the Bristol Blenheim 3 is my cup of tea: nondescript, subtly sexy, rather boring, and so exclusive that even I would mistake the Bristol for something else entirely. No airbags, no ABS, nothing post-1980, actually, it seems.

How did I learn about it?  What I believe is a maroon Bristol 405 is a featured character in the British film, An Education. Check this out:

The Bristol Blenheim 3 is one of the world’s most remarkable cars. Bristol is the only remaining luxury car manufacturer under British control. It is also the last company that still creates its cars entirely by hand in the time-honoured manner benefiting from the exacting skill, precision and care of individual craftsmen. By deliberately restricting production to a handful of cars per week we ensure exclusivity and excellence of manufacture. The labour hours to build the Blenheim 3 are three to four times more than those of any other specialist luxury cars. This we happily accept as the cost of perfection.

Externally, a Bristol’s appearance is carefully tailored to achieve quiet understatement yet maintain an elegant, timeless line. The latest Blenheim 3 benefits from a sleeker, more rounded aluminium body whose softly sculptured nose conceals more efficient cooling ducts and a subtle ‘splitter’, which eliminates residual lift without any drag penalty. By blending modern elements with traditional Bristol proportions we have achieved an elegant Grand Tourer which looks distinguished in any surroundings.

Today’s traffic conditions require a vehicle with compact overall dimensions to provide enjoyable, stress-free motoring. The Blenheim’s major mechanical components are carefully laid out to avoid the usual massive centre console stealing interior room so that we may provide the interior width of a formal luxury car within the exterior width of a medium sized saloon. A rare feature these days is a generous area of glass (of exceptional optical quality) and slim pillars which give unrivalled outward vision. Combined with an unexpectedly tight turning circle the Blenheim allows brisk and enjoyable progress in traffic conditions and slips through gaps where traditional luxury saloons are often brought to a frustrating standstill.

Despite its compact exterior dimensions, Blenheim 3 draws on our logical Aviation heritage to maximise space within. The normally wasted area behind the front wheels is used for lockable compartments which house the spare wheel, battery and electrical components. The fuel tank is located above the rear axle line (the safest place imaginable) thus ensuring that the boot is deep and regularly spaced. Four six foot tall adults can settle comfortably into amply sized leather armchairs with generous leg, head and shoulder room. These high backed seats with integral headrests support you softly but fully while one of the strongest road car structures yet devised insulates you from unwanted harshness and vibration. The interior is trimmed by hand in a special flawless grade of hide created for Bristol, complemented by matched walnut veneer and Wilton carpet edge-bound in leather. Many hours are spent covering by hand the areas beneath with sound proofed multi-layered cushioned underlays to give that solid cosseted feel that is one of the great delights of a traditional coachbuilt body. In a Bristol, every journey becomes an occasion, a relaxing and satisfying place from which to observe the hectic world without.

It is not by chance that Bristol enjoys a reputation as a marque favoured by the most skilled and enthusiastic drivers. The Blenheim is unique among passenger cars in locating the entire engine and all major masses including spare wheel and battery within the wheelbase. This is essential, as it allows us to achieve not only the ideal front to rear weight balance but also the lowest possible centre of gravity and polar moment of inertia. The results may be felt every minute you drive – exceptional agility combined with imperturbable stability at speed and remarkable roadholding under all conditions. Bristol’s power steering system, unlike most others, has been developed to provide a true feel of the road, varying its feedback faithfully according to the amount of road grip that is available. Whether it is being used as a luxury Town Car or high speed Continental Express, Bristol’s painstaking engineering excellence puts the driver confidently in control and his passengers totally at ease.

Powering the Blenheim 3 is a large displacement naturally aspirated engine which has been optimised to perform economically and with exceptional responsiveness at low revs and light throttle openings. Indeed very few cars of any type offer more torque in relation to vehicle weight. You will notice this in the way that the car moves swiftly away from rest as if it weighs almost nothing. Every throttle movement will be answered with swift, obedient authority while a 70mph cruise requires an engine speed of barely 1,700 r.p.m. Should your mood or road conditions require it, the smooth yet responsive automatic transmission will immediately change down giving you access to a level of performance normally reserved for serious sporting machines.

By painstaking engineering and innovative design, Bristol have achieved what our owners most desire. A car sized to make the best use of today’s roads yet with the full accommodation of a formal saloon and the presence of a true gentleman’s Grand Touring coupé

Specifications

 

• ENGINE – Layout: 8 cylinders in Vee formation Cubic Capacity: 5,900 cc Bore: 101.6mm (4.00 in) Stroke: 90.93mm (3.58in) Compression Ratio: 9.25:1 Fuel System: Tuned runner aluminium plenum with multi port injection. Ignition System: Dual microprocessor sequential electronic ignition.
• DRIVETRAIN – Layout: Electronically controlled automatic with four forward speeds and reverse. Torque Converter: Stall ratio 2.19:1 with computer controlled lock-up clutch. Final Drive: 2.88:1 (3.06 optional) Overall Gearing: 40.72 mph/1,000 r.p.m. (38.52 optional).
• SUSPENSION – Front: Unequal length wishbones with coil springs, adjustable telescopic dampers, torsional anti-roll bar. Rear: Bristol 8-link axle with torsion springs, adjustable telescopic dampers. Limited slip differential.
• STEERING – Layout: Power assisted recirculating ball. Safety: Energy absorbing column with offset joints and twin progressive collapse sections. Steering wheel: 14″ diameter with hand stitched leather trim.
• BRAKES – Front: Self adjusting discs with four piston calipers. Rear: Self adjusting discs with two piston calipers. Handbrake: Mechanical linkage operating on rear discs.
• WHEELS – 7 x 15″ Alloy (7 x 16″ Alloy optional).
• TYRES – Front and Read: 215/70 x 15 (225/60 x 16 optional) Spare: Full sized located in front wing compartment.
• FUEL SYSTEM – Pump: Electric high pressure with external filter and regulator. Tank: 82 litres (18 lmp. gallons) – 109 litres (24 lmp. gallons optional) Filler: Concealed with remote electric release.

 

• DIMENSIONS – Length: 4.87m (15′ 10″). Width: 1.765m (5′ 9″). Height: 1.441m (4’8″). Wheelbase: 2.89m (9’6″). Track Front: 1.416m (4’7″). Track Rear: 1.435m (4’8″). Turning Circle: 11.912m (39′). Kerb weight: 1,728kg (3,870lb).
• PERFORMANCE – Acceleration: 0 – 60 mph in 6.3 secs.
• BASE PRICE £141,995.00
  VAT @ 15% £21,299.25
  Total UK Price £163,294.25

Further enquiries may be directed to the head office and showrooms:
Bristol Cars Ltd. the manufacturers
Unit 19, Shield Drive, Westcross Centre, Great West Road, Brentford, TW8 9EX
Tel: 020 7603 5555