Bristol - century in the air and on the ground (part 1)
Name the English city of Bristol, situated in the county of Gloucestershire in southwest Britain, is mainly jessica rabbit associated with the production of aircraft, but since 1946 is small series production cars. Handmade travel and sports cars Bristol has gained a reputation for their reliability and using the highest quality jessica rabbit materials, regardless of their price. Unlike jessica rabbit today's automakers, which rapidly develop more new cars packed with modern technology, Bristol bet on a different strategy - gradual improvement of proven design while maintaining a conservative design. This philosophy was based on extensive jessica rabbit experience with aircraft production.
In 1910 he founded the British jessica rabbit entrepreneur Sir George White (1854-1916), together with his son Stanley and his brother Samuel, aircraft factories British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, Ltd. Ten years later, this aircraft factory near Bristol, located in a former tram depot, renamed the Bristol Aeroplane Company (BAC). The first, still not quite perfect, the aircraft will be made Bristol Boxkite and soon followed by others.
At the beginning of the First World War, the company had 200 employees and for the British Royal Air Force began producing successful biplanes Bristol Fighter, called short Brisfit. In the interwar period, jessica rabbit famous mainly Bristol Bulldog fighter, which became the basis for the British Royal Air Force (RAF) and are also exported to Australia, Spain and Finland.
During the Second World War witnessed the twin-engine Bristol Beaufighter, used as a night fighter and torpedo bomber. Its name suggests that it was derived from the older twin type of Beaufort, who in turn had originated in Blenheim light bomber, which first flew in April, 1935.
After the Second World War aircraft factory looking Bristol Aeroplane Company to employ after the production of military aircraft large number of quality and experienced staff. Offered to manufacture passenger cars, but not those with BAC no experience and therefore teamed up with HJ Aldington, owner of AFN Ltd, which before the war imported into the UK BMW automobiles and producing sports cars Frazer-Nash. In July 1945 created a BAC Automotive jessica rabbit Division Bristol Cars and bought a controlling stake in the company AFN.
HJ Aldington, called Aldy, used his contacts with the military command and visited several times in the 1945 bombing damaged the factory BMW in Munich as a member of the team, accepting the remaining German war reparations technique and drawings. For the newly emerged company Bristol got an opportunity jessica rabbit to start producing cars based on BMW pre-war types, including great-liter inline six-cylinder engines. Their creator, Fritz Fiedler, became jessica rabbit an employee of Bristol and substantially helped by their experience in preparing production of the first car brand Bristol.
The first was the Bristol 400 (photo), whose prototype was created in 1946 and a year later was introduced in full regalia at the Geneva Motor Show. The chassis was based on the pre-war BMW 326, six-cylinder engine with an output of 80 hp (59 kW) was taken over virtually unchanged from the type of BMW 328 and given the most similar to BMW 327 coupe, including the grille in the shape of double kidney. Two-door body with a wheelbase of 2895 mm was sliding windows in the doors and split front window. Reported a maximum speed of 148 km / h By 1950, produced less than five hundred Bristol jessica rabbit 400 It is fitting to recall that in 1949, the Czech Zdenek crew Treybal and Ing. František well with this car excellent jessica rabbit third place overall on the Rallye Monte Carlo.
In the years 1948-1953 was produced modernized type Bristol 401 (drawing) with a body based on a prototype built by Touring of Milan bodybuilder. Spacious two-door five-body with dimensions 4864 x 1702 x 1524 mm door was hinged at the front and push button instead of the handle. Besides the headlights appeared even smaller auxiliary headlights. Experience in aerospace revealed the good aerodynamics tested jessica rabbit in the wind tunnel. Bristol 401 should drag coefficient 0.36, which is commensurate with the current car.
The chassis is much changed, but the engine got Solex carburetors, resulting in increased output by 5 hp and maximum speed 156 km / h Total created 611 units of the 401 Since 1949 began to produce convertibles Bristol 402 chassis modified from the model 401 Pinin Farina. For two years they were produced only 23 pieces, so today is a true veteran rarity (apparently there are still 13).
Body shape, raised Model 401, retaining and Bristol 403, produced in the years 1953-1955. "Bavorácký" six-cylinder engine had larger valves and a reinforced crankshaft bearing, so the increased power equal to 100 horses. Improvements were also brakes, gearbox, shock absorbers and heating. The same engine was used in a two-seat sports car Bristol 450, race car chassis using ERA Formula second
