New 403 owner

[Bellerophon]

There has been a lot said about Bristol's and how they fit into the modern
world, but the position was a much clearer years ago and its status was
understood by people who knew about cars.
I bought my 401 some 48 years ago when it was 10 years old, just after it
had been to the works and had some updating done. The reason I bought it was
that there was nothing else which came near it for quality or performance,
I was looking for the best and the Bristol was. This was a simple decision
albeit an expensive one at the time as the new cost was almost 3.500 GBP
in 1952 and I paid a third of this in 1962 which for someone who had just
finished as a De Havilland Apprentice was a lot of money and one could buy a
house for that.
I have never regretted buying the car, in fact it has turned out to be one
of the best things that I have done, in as much as it has given me endless
pleasure made me friends from all over the world, has been welcomed into
many countries, but above all it is established as one of the family. I hope
that I will still be able to drive it for many years, as I joined the new
Bristol Owners Club in 1964 when it was part of the BMW Club, I was the
youngest member, alas I am the only original member left now, but it is good to
see the club so well established.
My regards,
Bellerophon

[GREG]

I think Bellerophon probably has a unique perspective on Bristol cars and even owned my 408 back in the 60's but chose to keep the 401 -- hmmm !

Having seen and been in the Bellerophon 401, it is remarkable that a car more than a half century old can still go down the road as good as some modern cars. Bristol took a superb bit of engineering and design from BMW and made it better and made it their own.

Given the same circumstances today, I wonder what 10 year old car someone like a young Bellerophon would buy ? Would it be a Bristol ? In my mind it is a much harder choice as I don't believe that any model stands out as much as the Bristols in that era and I can't imagine anything being so usable in 60 years time.

So, what would a young Bellerophon buy today ?

Greg