[406Special]

Dorien, I think the term "misguided" is not entirely appropriate.
When one knows where and when to use a specialist and is prepared to
pay market rate in full and open view of sense and sensibility then I
do not call that misguided. Also, making the car better than say
when new and especially upgrading it in areas where it may well cost
more, like brakes, climate control, suspension and interior, doesn't
mean the owner is all money and no brains. I don't take offence as I
am not a wealthy man nor capable of all the skills needed to work on
my project, yet I do do a lot where I can. In fact it is cheaper for
me to pay someone to do most of the work whilst I do my specialist
effort at much higher day rates than to spend my time doing it, even
if I could, so the equation varies. Largely it all depends on what
one wants as an end result. My cheapest option would have been to
buy for £8-16k a decent 406, sell the original engine and gearbox and
do the re-engine engineering at a total cost probably far less than
£18k after selling the Bristol motor and gearbox. Further, fully
restored and cheap Bristols don't come along all that often and I
waited near 2 years to find the one I have, albeit was in far dire
condition than I wanted. In any case whatever I bought was going to
stripped bare and rebuilt - that was my aim. I wanted something that
I know will be solid and secure for another 20-40 years and which I
can pass on to my son (isn't he a lucky chap). If Bristols were like
some other classics, certainly I believe the 400, 404, 405DH and
Zagato models are pretty much getting there, then I would have
invested a lot more and created a new standard 406. But then Bristol
has always prepared cars to the owners specification anyway,
something I am simply extending to make it more serviceable and
enjoyable now and not as it was in 1959 when I was still on a leash.
It will be My Private Car.

Clyde