Its all Over.

[Peter Grace]

As I understood it, everyone who met Toby Silverton was impressed with his business skills. The business was considered to be in capable hands.

If, more through family problems than business problems, the funding has just dried up, then Mr Silverton might simply have been caught out with, as Kevin says, an 'overdraft' problem. I think anyone who has run their own business would be sympathetic with that.

It does seem strange though, if again the stories of a two year waiting list are true, that they would close the Patchway plant, when that is surely generating real income for the company. This implies expenses are wildly out of control, or debt is?

It is also somewhat ironical that the servicing and parts business is considered the one worth saving in the interim, that the old Bristol community might, in the short term at least, be giving the old firm some hope?

[Peter Grace]

Slightly off topic, but not a lot off topic, this documentary might make some people feel a bit better.

Patrick Grant is the new owner of Savile Row tailors Norton & Sons and E Tautz. Buying an old established company of tailors is not the same as buying an old car manufacturing company, but I suppose the risks were pretty high.

If PR was a measure of success, then he has done very well so far.

In this series he tours Britain meeting the suppliers to his business, including the weavers of his fabrics (Harris tweed and flannels), sockmakers, shoes, wallet makers et al.

He is very funny, in that odd way the Brits are, with long monologues born of Python and Joyce and vaudeville routines.

Textile Factories Video Tour - Manufacture - Esquire

[jimfoz]

A few people have mentioned in other forums MOD contracts Bristol were doing that were cancelled which I never knew, although I think possibly the fact that the cars were manufactured near BAE and RR and the associated sensitive developments may have caused confusion in this respect??

[Barrie]

How sad that after all this time they should fail.
Christopher Balfour wrote a very interesting and in most ways thoroughly comprehensive
history of the company titled A Very British Story which is ironically and poignantly prophetic
as it turns out.

Bristol started to produce cars in the 1940s and from the 60s was owned by the ex-racing
driver Tony Crook after about 10 yrs as a distributor for the company.
(You gotta have some self-confidence to sell cars with the name A. Crook!) Tony Crook is
now in his 90s and jealously guarded Bristol’s heritage until he gradually sold out to Toby
Silverton who apparently is going to let the company go.
Crook continued to work for the company but it would seem his strong will and Fawlty
ways annoyed t’management so much that arrived at his Kensington office one morning
in June 2007 to find that he was unceremoniously locked out. Poor chap – heart-breaking
after being devoted to the company for so long and one of their dealers for ten years or so

Although, as I’ve said previously, Balfour’s book was very comprehensive it did miss out one
very important episode.
Theft threatens UK's most exclusive car maker - Auto Trader UK - News and Reviews Hub
ie in July 2007 some very important presses were stolen.
This was not mentioned in the book which for such a momentous event was surprising nor
can I find any evidence that it was mentioned anywhere ever again.
Although the author and I corresponded for a while, an enquiry to him to get to the bottom
of this was not fruitful and indeed all correspondence then ceased.

I wonder why the incident was not mentioned in the book?
I wonder where the presses are now?
I wonder if the loss of the presses contributed to the failure of the business?

I wonder what really happened?

[Markus Berzborn]

Originally Posted by Barrie

I wonder if the loss of the presses contributed to the failure of the business?

I would consider that highly improbable.

Regards,
Markus

[GREG]

I don't see how the stolen presses made any difference. Blenheims and Fighters were built after that date as well as specials.

If they were stolen by scrap metal thiefs, they would have been melted down within 48 hours and be untraceable. If anything, the insurance may have given a financial boost.

I think too many people think that this is the end. Let's wait and see..

Maybe Toby didn't want to put any more re-finance money in until he had total control ! Can't be easy working with family Mafia !

Jenson, Aston, Jaguar died many times and came back -- let's try some optimism.

[sjp63]

Jenson Button

Jensen Cars

[lord sward]

I believe the stolen presses were 're-acquired'.