Wing Bay Valance Key Pocket

[John Keighley]

Since getting the 410 back from restoration, one of the things I have yet to do is to have an upholsterer to create the Valance Bay key holder. Could somebody, (such as Sam Frost possibly) please post some photos showing the correct location in the foot well and what it looks like?
Many thanks,
John Keighley.

[Janne]

The holster for my S5 has a metal sleeve behind the fabric. It sits on the wall fairly close to the door, 2/3 up from the sill.
It is just an Omega shaped bent piece of sheet metal.

__ .__
. .U

not easy to be a Graphic designer.... connect the U with the _

And the key is called a "lock key"....

Vintage Supplies Ltd have a cheap, nice Chromed one....

[pasini s]

Hello Janne,

do you have a link for the page where Vintage Supplies offers this item for sale? I cannot find it. Thank you!

Stefano

[Janne]

The web:
Classic car parts for all classic, veteran and vintage cars

click on Classic car parts, top left

in the search box, put " lock key"

You find it half way down on the page, item number 191, £ 4.20 each.

[GREG]

Looks okay

budget lock key :: Vintage Car Parts

Or you could have this chromed -- it says Bristol on it ! :-)

NEW! BRISTOL TOOLS T-HANDLE 5/16" HEX WRENCH on eBay (end time 31-Mar-11 17:56:15 BST)

[pasini s]

Thank you, Greg and Jaìnne!

Now that I am nearly completing the restoration of my 409, I am very curious to see what this 'key holder' might be and where one would have to put it!

Thanks

Stefano

[Janne]

unless somebody doesit before me, I will take a pic as soon as my car arrives here on Cyman. I shoud have it next week.

[Kevin H]

Originally Posted by GREG

Or you could have this chromed -- it says Bristol on it ! :-)

NEW! BRISTOL TOOLS T-HANDLE 5/16" HEX WRENCH on eBay (end time 31-Mar-11 17:56:15 BST)

.... except "it" (pictured below), is not the right key and will not work for a V8 wing bay. The correct key is square, not hex!

[GREG]

Yep - the hex key can be removed from the handle with a small allen key and replaced with a square piece. Looks quite cool when chromed as the BRISTOL casting makes it look bespoke to the car :-)

It's not a complicated lock ! a screwdriver can open it.

[Janne]

There is a thread called Bristol 411 last post from 060210
On one of the pictures of interior, you can see the position of the key holster.

As Bristol are "British Hand made", the exact position is not so important.

[Kevin H]

I took a photo of mine but on closer inspection reached the conclusion that is it not original.

This picture shows one on a 411 (S2?) that was done in a factory re-trim.

Note also the compartment at the bottom of the door has also been shortened and replaced with carpet. I thought this was a good idea given that the end of the compartment almost always gets scuffed/damaged by the driver's feet getting in and out.

[Janne]

Mine is a little bit higher. I should say "was", as the owner after me had the interior redone.
I will see where it is now next week Wednesday evening, when it emerges from the shipping container...

[Sam410]

Here's my 410. The car was retrimmed about 20 years ago, so this may not be as it left the factory.

[Janne]

Weird. I know mine has a metal insert, that one seems to be soft?
And also, mine is screwed to the wall.
Byr in fact that solution is better, no leaking, extra holes in the car, and gentler on the key.
I doubt there was a standard place. Not much standardised on Bristols!

[Sam410]

Originally Posted by Janne

Weird. I know mine has a metal insert, that one seems to be soft?

As far as I can see it is just a leather pocket stitched to the carpet. The car was previously owned and restored by SLJ, and I think (but am not 100% certain) that it was David Nightingale (http://www.coachtrimming.co.uk/) who trimmed it for him.