[John Keighley]

Yes, possibly.
Good to see that Bristol Cars is likely to survive for the interim. The inevitable succession of custodianship has happened and it's reassuring (from my point of view anyway) that the aviation links continue (Silverton's background). There's no doubt that the touch of eccentricity and the discreetly bespoke nature of Bristols are substantial portions of the reasons we are all attracted to them. This is all apart from the fact that we can reasonably expect to get into a Bristol, drive and arrive at the other end without suffering the indignity of breakdowns and other no-go confoundations that some other exotics are well known for! In 1979/80 and in the late eighties, I frequently passed the Bristol Showrooms and they always struck me as quaintly fitting the Bristol ethos perfectly and the article seems to confirm this today.

The publication Car (I think is was) had what seemed to be an even more interesting article on the service division and its 89 year-old manager - several copies of which my local newsagent had in stock. As luck would have it, I had forgotten my wallet and by the time I got back there two days later to get one, they had infuriatingly returned these back to the distributors so it looks as I've missed out there.

Incidently, I've ordered Christopher Balfour's new book. He's an excellent writer, a long-term owner of a 406 and well qualified to produce something on Bristol. It should be a good read and apart from the Brookland's Portfolio, it's the first Bristol book since the LJKS 'A Private Car'.