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

For those unaware, but who may be interested, several photos of a recently-completed Blenheim, described in a phone call from Toby Silverton to me as a "one-off Blenheim 4," the design was the result of the owner's input working with BMLtd personnel, are shown in the Photo albums at the BOC site, under a heading of AGM 2009.

Though the photos could not be made at the most advantageous quarter angles, they are very interesting to look at, particularly since a couple of them show the new car right beside a B 3. The paint on the two cars, if not the same are very similar, a light silvery blue, so the cars can be examined closely without the distraction of very different paint colors.

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

Interesting comparison between the latest and previous or older
Blenheim. The older one shown is an LPG version. The new car has
two bulges running down either side of top of the roof indicating a
seam that is otherwise not apparent on previous Bristols of any age
or model. The roof is curved more on either side, as is the higher
rear boot line. The rear light cluster is new (what car are they
from?) and the boot lid is less cluttered and more curved as well,
complete with the colour coded bumpers and modern rear parking assist
devices embedded.

Clyde

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

Can you provide a link? I do not find a photo album section on the BOC
site.
Thanks,
Dorien

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

The link to the photos is as follows, but will need your BOC web
login to access.

http://boc.net/cms/modules/xcgal/dis...&pos=9&pid=428

Clyde

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

The rear lights are from a 1990's Audi A4 Avant (estate).

Andrew



>

Blenheim 4 Pictures
 

Hi All,

I posted pictures of the Blenheim 4 on the Yahoo BOCForum site. Link Below:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BOCFor...52388/pic/list

Far from professional quality, they were taken outside the Factory with a compact digital camera. My excitement upon collecting the "new baby" also limited the number of shots I took. Rather than "snap" it, I just wanted to "hit the road".

Richard

But, there are those who don't have access to yahoogroups, as well.

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

For some reason my reply didn't appear next to the original email i was
responding to, so i have resent it adding it to that comment.

Original message: (Quote) - Interesting comparison between the latest and
previous or older Blenheim. The older one shown is an LPG version. The new
car has two bulges running down either side of top of the roof indicating a
seam that is otherwise not apparent on previous Bristols of any age or
model. The roof is curved more on either side, as is the higher rear boot
line. The rear light cluster is new (what car are they from?) and the boot
lid is less cluttered and more curved as well, complete with the colour
coded bumpers and modern rear parking assist devices embedded. - (End
Quote)

My reply - The rear lights are from a 1990's Audi A4 Avant (estate).

Andrew

Blenheim 4 Pictures
 

Looks a lot more modern with the changes, far smoother. Quite an
improvement and when next to a current Blenheim 3, it makes the 3 look so
dated.

Andrew

Blenheim 4
 

Louis I have uploaded an album titled "Blenheim 4" on this site; hope you can see this one!

Andrew you are correct re the rear lights being Audi, however they are from this decade not the '90's.

Richard

Interesting. I far prefer the 3.

Blenheim 4
 

Sorry Richard i stand corrected.

The car is a vast improvement on the Blenheim 3, you must be very proud.

Andrew

Thank you!

Blenheim 4
 

Andrew I am very pleased with how the car turned out; (more thrilled actually). Feeling Proud? No not really, as my input was very minor compared to that of Toby Silverton...... he conceived the design and guided the factory personnel towards the final result. Toby and the Filton Crew are the ones that should be feeling proud. I am pleased that almost everyone thinks it's turned out well.

Richard

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

(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

Hi
I have added a further album with the 2 models side by side.
The roof bumps are a treatment similar to that on many mainstream cars, where roof rack fittings are mounted, and has been done to remove the over door guttering.
Both cars are gas powered and the lining of the boot lid also incorporates a fastening for 2 BOC umbrellas (not shown opn the photos)

I think is a definite improvement with the smoothed flanks and redesigned front and rear which always looked a bit awkward and heavy, especially the rear with the old Vauxhall Senator lights. The interior is also an improvement - glad they have ditched the underdash air con unit and integrated this with the rest of the heating system.

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.

Richard, it's a lovely car whatever way you hang it. The reshaping of the boot really works. I like the smoothed flanks, particularly as they taper towards the rear.

It is fantastic that in this day and age you can have a completely unique car built for you, rather than an optioned up product trying to stand out from every other version on the road

Imagine trying to ask Bentley to completely reshape every panel for you? I suppose that is the difference between hand made and bespoke.

Paul

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.

Blenheim 4
 

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

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 ?

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.

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

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

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

Blenheim 4
 

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

Blenheim 4
 

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.

Blenheim 4
 

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