London Motor Shows , Earls Court 1948 to 1959

Geoff Dowdle · #1 (**permalink**) 15-06-11, 01:57 AM

Has anyone out there got details or photos of Bristol , Frazer Nash or Bristol powered cars exhibited at the various post war Earls Court Motor Shows .
The first possibly in 1948 .
AFN and BAC possibly exhibited seperately as well as AC from 1956 onwards .

Anything related to Geneva, Turin, Vienna, Brussels or other European shows
Plus Melbourne , Sydney and New York of the period would also be welcome.
I have details of AFN exhibits and some of BAC at these shows .
Anything would be greatly appreciated
Geoff

Geoff Dowdle · #2 (**permalink**) 11-05-14, 12:45 AM

I did not get one reply about Bristol Motor Show Cars ,
Someone out there must have some information /photos etc about the subject
Anything no matter how insignificant will be appreciated

Geoff

Giles · #3 (**permalink**) 11-05-14, 09:17 AM

There is some Bristol footage on the content Pathe recently made available on their YouTube channel -

This is some of the bits I could see from a quick search, a thorough review would probably find more -

Mostly fleeting glimpses, I am afraid!

409 at Earl's Court - The Big Drive - Technicolor (1966) - YouTube
407 at Earl's Court - The Motor Show (1961) - YouTube
406 Zagato at Earl's Court - Motor Show (1959) - YouTube
400 at Monte Carlo - Cars Rally At Monte Carlo (1949) - YouTube
411 in 1969 - Special ! The Motor Show (1969) - YouTube

Geoff Dowdle · #4 (**permalink**) 12-05-14, 04:02 AM

Giles,
many thanks your reply , I have seen some of those before .
The Monte Carlo Rally is interesting as well .

I'm slowly building a file on the show cars with chassis numbers and when it is more advanced will post it to the Forum.
In the late 40's and 50's BAC or their agents actively displayed cars at Earls Court , Geneva ,Vienna, Bruxelles , Turin, Paris, New York, Chicago, Melbourne , Sydney and possibly other Motor Shows.
I have quite a bit of information pre 1962 and nothing of 1962 , 1964, 1965 and 1970 onwards .
THANKS
Geoff

Kevin H · #5 (**permalink**) 12-05-14, 12:29 PM

Geoff,
I have a few bits and pieces for you from the early 1950s, however I need to work out the best way of copying it because I get a moire effect on the pictures when I scan it and I'm struggling to photographs it without shadows or glare.

I'll work something out but it might be the weekend before I have time to spend on it.

Regards,
Kevin

penman · #6 (**permalink**) 12-05-14, 02:46 PM

Hi
Have you checked with Christopher Balfour? He has a lot of references to Motor Shows in his book and possibly has a lot more info than he was able to include in the book.

Geoff Dowdle · #7 (**permalink**) 13-05-14, 06:03 AM

Kevin & Penman ,
Tks your replies ,
I have collected information from Chris Balfour's excellent book (so much better than anything produced before and such good value for money).
when I get further advanced I will contact him to see what he can add.
The internet has provided some information and photos , as has the BOC Register .
I'm hopeful others in the Bristol car world might have information filed away
Thanks
Geoff

Kevin H · #8 (**permalink**) 16-05-14, 01:56 PM

Hi Geoff,

You may already have these - see attached.

Don't know how you can identify the cars though ...

Regards,
Kevin

Geoff Dowdle · #9 (**permalink**) 18-05-14, 12:37 AM

Kevin,
Thanks for these photos which I have not seen before .
Were they in a BAC publication ??

Geoff

Kevin H · #10 (**permalink**) 18-05-14, 03:30 AM

Geoff,
They are from the Bristol Review, a quarterly magazine published by the factory.

I've got some more - will scan and upload in due course.

Kevin