[seanmcs]

Kevin:

I agree that this is an essential read. But it does show the
difference between what was becoming a badge applier and a
manufacturer. I'm not saying which was smarter - buying in needs
little capital and you can be fleet of foot. Yet it must have been
that Bristol had in mind a good sized industrial operation, supposedly
based on good West Country ideas of providing employment for the
workers after the war. As it worked out it had a hard time to make big
production with scarce materials, high UK taxes on cars and luxuries,
export or bust exhortations, and then when the Comet fell and the
plane manufacturers were forced to merge, the car subsidiaries were
starved of capital. Then Bristol morphed into a partial badge company,
certainly as regards the engine. But so far, this has been no bad thing.

Anyway, if events turn sour in the US - more than they have, there are
still other interesting engines around.

Best. Sean