Bristol 404 Tyres

Bristol is now celebrating over half a century of production under private ownership, but the company's roots go further back than 50 years. Originally manufacturing trams in the 19th century before going on to become the Bristol Aeroplane Company established in 1910 to serve the British aviation market. Bristol served well during the two world wars. In the second, Bristol produced over 14,000 aircraft including the Blenheim Fighter Bomber.

After the war in 1945 under the leadership of Sir George White the company decided to use up surplus engineering and production capacity by small scale manufacturing of high performance sports cars. The first of the Bristol cars was the 400. The 400 along with other fledgling cars got some of their styling from pre war BMWs. These cars were built in 1946 and quickly gained an enviable reputation. The cars ran on pre war 2 litre engines that were heavily developed and eventually built by the engine division of the aeroplane company. To this day Bristol cars are hand built to an extremely high standard that is hard to beat. The 401 and 402 drophead shortly followed.

Entering the 50's Bristol brought with it the 403 and 404. The Bristol 404 was the first British designed car to fit the radical Michelin X radial tyre in early 1954, once more marking the company out as a setter of trends. Also in 1954 a 405 that was based on the 404 was produced with 4 doors. The shape that took them through to the late 1970's (in various guises) was the 406. Bristol kept the same shape but subtle styling changes and face-lifts helped keep the shape modern. At one point the company dropped an adaptation of Chryslers V8 power plant into the car. All of these modifications amalgamated into the 411 that was produced in 1969 and stayed in production through to 1975.

By 1960 due to political pressure the aviation division of the company was forced to merge with other aviation companies to form the British aircraft corporation. It was in the same year that to ensure its identity and autonomy Bristol Cars Ltd was acquired by former racing driver Tony Crook and the grandson of founder Sir George White, only 3 years later Tony Crook became sole owner and director of the company.