Bristol 400 in Austria

[Geoff Dowdle]

I recently found this photo on the internet of an unrestored RHD 400
The registered number is FRI 06185 which I understand is from Freistadt/Austria .

Would anyone be able to advise the best way to try to contact the owner of the car. As BOC 400 Registrar I'm particularly interested in receiving confirmation of the Chassis Number & Engine number to help complete the Register

About 30 Bristol 400's were sold new to Switzerland from 1947 to 1950 and very few are known to survive . My guess is that some were on sold to neighbouring countries.

Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Geoff Dowdle
Sydney/Australia

[fischerhd]

Dear Geoff,
the register nummer is not from Austria, but from Germany.
The red number 06 is used by car traders in order to move
a not registered car from one place to another.
FRI is "Landkreis Friesland" in the very north of our country.
The Opel on the other side has "OL" for "Oldenburg",
a town situated in the same aeria.
Hope that will help.
Best regards
Heinrich

[Geoff Dowdle]

Heinrich,
Many thanks for your advice .
Is there anyway of tracing the car traders name/location through the number
"FRI-06185"

Regards
Geoff

[Richard]

Geoff,

I don't think there is any way to trace the trader through the number, data protection and all that.
Do you have any more information on the site where you found the photo?
Regards
Richard

[Geoff Dowdle]

Richard ,
I found the photo on Flickr in an Albumn of "Opron" who I gather is a professional photographer .

It was present at a classic car display on 14/5/15
I'm not experienced using Flickr and could not find a way to contact "Opron"

Any advice/help will be appreciated

Tks
Geoff

[Richard]

Geoff
The photo was taken at a Classic Car Market in Bockhorn in the area of Friesland in June 2015. Bockhorn is similar to the Beaulieu Autojumble and one of the biggest in Germany. One can surmise that the owner of the 400 was trying to sell it there.

Opron himself is based in Duesseldorf and has hundreds of car photos on his Flickr site including several ones of Bristols taken at Classic Days in Schloss Dyck. He describes himself as a car fanatic!

I couldn't see a way of contacting him either but I don't think he could help much.

Richard

[Richard]

Geoff,

Success!!! I have Just found it
It is owned by Ulrich Weinberg who has a workshop in Zetel in Friesland
Here is the link
www.weinberg-oldtimer.de/oldtimer/bristol/

I can call him next week if you wish.

Richard

[Geoff Dowdle]

Richard,
Were you a detective in your earlier life ??

Many thanks for your effort .
Details of the car are as follows
Chassis 400/1/633
Car 400/A/503
Engine 85A/1724
Original Colour Black
Despatched to JH Galt/Glasgow on 21/9/50
Registered "HUS810" in Glasgow
Various owners in UK until about 2005.
Joop Stolze of the Netherlands had the car for sale for quite a few years.


Is the car for sale or is it about to be restored . I'm afraid my German is non existent .

---------------------------------------------------------------------
While you are on a roll I have another unknown 400 in Germany .
See attached photo . It looks pretty sad. The article was printed in "Oldtimer Markt" December 2012 . Its location at the time was near Quedlinburg, Billingstr (near Berlin & Hanover) .
This will test your detective ability !!

How and why these cars deteriorate to this condition I can not understand .
Spencer Lane Johns & Hackett have two Barnfind 400's now on their website .It is good that they have surfaced and hopefully will be restored and not parted out.

Thanks
Geoff

[Richard]

Geoff,
Mr Google and his maps helped me a lot! By coincidence I shall be in that area later this year for a few days with my 405 so might call in and have a look at it. It looks an interesting workshop anyway.

Here is a translation of the bit on the website about it
"Patina without end ........
Such a lived life as this Bristol is what the boss loves. He couldn’t resist the Bristol.
Many years ago a friend had parked the car derived from the BMW 327 for 45 years as a paint-stripped parts carrier.
Uli Weinberg liked the originality and the conspicuous lived life. He bought it, restored the chassis and brakes, put in a new wireing harness and replaced the blind headlights.
The car then had its only public appearance for more than half a century at the graduation ceremony in 2015 for Weinberg's son. In Bristol and tuxedo the Weinbergs drove through Zetel and were assured of much attention ...."

Your second conundrum is more difficult and Peter Stellwag in Munich has already had a go at it without success. I can send you a translation of the article by private mail if you wish.
Regards
Richard

[Geoff Dowdle]

Richard ,
It would be interesting to visit the restoration shop and inspect the car .

It is one of 12 Bristol 400s that I know of in Germany
(but there could be more)

400/663 at Zetel
400/142 at Altenberge
400/506 at Erkelenz
400/601 at Mainz
400/418 at Kelkheim
400/369 at Bruckmvehl
400/583 at Grunwald
400/541 at Munchen
400/308 at Merk Motor Museum/Nuremberg
400/unknown near Quedlinburg
400/663 Bad Schmiedeberg
400/535 at Egling near Berlin

Could you please send me a translation of the Oldtimer Markt article

Thanks
Geoff