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

[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

[lansdownplace]

I agree, the B4 is a great update on a timeless design Oddly enough
I looked at the front of the B4 last week which is the only panel
carried over from the B3. I had assumed it was flat bit it is
actually completely sculpted in every dimension particularly under
the lights. I hadn't noticed and it isn't readily apparent in
photos. The splitter is similarly shaped and made up of two parts.

I like the treatment of the sides of rear flanks and the fact that
there are no swags lines. It would be interesting to model the same
approach on the front quarters.

On the Lusso rendering I like the effect of the chrome strip sitting
on the top of the side locker panel with the shadow line above it.

[californiabristol]

I agree that the B4 has very nice surfaces on the side in contrast to
the 603-Blenheim3 which always appear either too flat or too rippled.
The bumpers could definitely be refined. To me, the horizontal bumper
shut line along the side of the rear fender is dropping when it should
be rising slightly.

The days when only "tattered" Bristols were cool are clearly over,
so I am feeling a bit inadequate with all the recent restorations and
specials. Very exciting.

Greg