A "one-off" Blenheim 4, seen at the AGM

[browning l]

Originally Posted by Jervaulx

(Quote) - browning l

Interesting. I far prefer the 3. (End Quote)

I think it's all down to personal taste. Whilst i like the Blenheim 3, i do
think it's time for a more radical makeover since it is starting to age
quite heavily now. A smaller window area would help with this, added to a
less severe nose. Though i think the former would require an all new body
design. Easy to say of course when i'm not the one paying for the
development costs.

Andrew

Andrew, I am very happy for Richard...it's what he wanted and it is just wonderful that he is pleased with it.

As a very recent newby to Bristols, the thing that attracted me to the 603 and its derivatives was that B had not gone to the ubiquitous wedge shape one sees everywhere. Will they someday? Who knows. Also, since only Bristols that are at least 25 years old can come into the US, I really didn't have much choice.

Many of today's redesigns in the industry are, to me, bulbous. See Chrysler and Bentley, to mention only two. I can't accept these as possessing classic styling.

These things are totally subjective, of course, and can not be any other way.

As we age, I believe it is normal for many of us to revert to the things we liked from yesteryear. As I will turn 77 in a few weeks, I definitely fall into that camp!

The greatest thing is that Bristol and Toby S. are trying to respond to their customer base.

[Kevin H]

Thanks to those who took the trouble to post the photos of the new Blenheim on this site for everyone to see.

Just to confirm, they can be found in the following albums;
http://www.bristolcars.info/forums/album.php?albumid=37
http://www.bristolcars.info/forums/album.php?albumid=36

My personal view is that the new design is an improvement, particularly at the rear end. It's a shame the plastic gear change surround wasn't changed to match the lovely burr walnut dash.

[Richard Levine]

Kevin you said
"My personal view is that the new design is an improvement, particularly at the rear end. It's a shame the plastic gear change surround wasn't changed to match the lovely burr walnut dash."

The gear change surround WAS changed during manufacture of the car! I specified that the current (Blenheim 3) PLASTIC one was too modern looking. The Blenheim 4 has a metal surround as per the first 412's. I know it's metal because it is being removed as we type, 'cos the chroming had a couple of bubbles on it and it's off to be rechromed! (No more new ones to swap it with, and the car came with a No Quibble Warranty!))

Richard

[mrbennetts]

Richard.....Thank you so much for posting the photographs. As you say, everyone concerned has made a lovely car. You have supported an English company in these difficult times. Do you think it will become the "official" styling for any more Blenheims, or is it just a one-off, bespoke model ?

[Kevin H]

Originally Posted by Richard Levine

The gear change surround WAS changed during manufacture of the car! I specified that the current (Blenheim 3) PLASTIC one was too modern looking. The Blenheim 4 has a metal surround as per the first 412's. I know it's metal because it is being removed as we type, 'cos the chroming had a couple of bubbles on it and it's off to be rechromed! (No more new ones to swap it with, and the car came with a No Quibble Warranty!))

Richard

Sorry Richard, I take back the plastic comment!

I was thinking a little more something like my old V8 Aston, (see attached pic), which of course had an older variant of the same transmission. Obviously you wouldn't be able to have so much wood around it on the Blenheim, but perhaps if the gear change surround were a little smaller, then it could be set into some wood to match the dash. If you like that sort of thing :-)

Still, yours look a damn site better than my 411.

[lansdownplace]

I am going to get a gearnob for a 412/411 made up in brass and
chromed if anyone is interested I can find out what the sale price
of such an item is once they have done mine.

.

Paul

[Markus Berzborn]

I'm not so enthusiastic about these design changes. Sure enough, it's not bad, but for me, it's no improvement over the standard Blenheim 3 either.
What disturbs me is that the Audi rear lights are clearly from a different time/design epoch than the rest of the car and look even more like a retrospective add-on than those from the Senator. I.e. to my eyes. Of course, the only important issue is that the owner likes it. This is what customized hand-made cars are all about.
After all, in former times, companies like Rolls-Royce only delivered a rolling chassis and the rest was left up to the respective owner's taste (and financial capabilities).

Regards,
Markus

[TBC]

I have to say that, unlike some others, I like the changes that were made to the one-off Blenheim. The rear three quarters are a huge improvement, the 603's drooping rear waistline was always a feature that I would have changed. The slightly narrower roof also improves the overall appearance, does it make a big difference inside with regards to head room for the rear passengers?

In fact the part of the car that looks most dated is the one that wasn't changed, the front panel containing the head lights and grille. I wonder if anyone out there with the right software could graft a fighter nose onto one of the images of the car, I would love to see what that looks like, maybe there the new Bristol resides.....

Keith