Any suggestions for alternatives to a Bristol?

[potential]

Originally Posted by Kevin Howard

Did Alfa make anything that fitted that criteria?

I can't think of anything from Alfa that's a direct competitor, the Montreal appeals but I'd have to be completely mad to buy one

Originally Posted by Peter.Kent

Other suggestions: keep with Lancia. The Gamma was a fantastic car, whether in Berlinetta or Coupe mode. Either look great. Fantastic handling, more than adequate performance from the 2.5 flat 4. Early ones shed cam belts but I think the design was put right with the fuel injected models. It's the last true Lancia. Those that followed were Fiats. Wouldn't cost a lot either. Peter

I do love the external shape of the Gamma Coupé but I'm not sure I'd enjoy staring at that dash board every day.

Speaking of Fiats, the 130 Coupé looks like a lovely car.

[RGSchmitt]

---Quote (Originally by Kevin Howard)---
Did Alfa make anything that fitted that criteria?
---End Quote---
I can't think of anything from Alfa that's a direct competitor, the
Montreal appeals but I'd have to be completely mad to buy one

Hi all -

The Alfetta (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfa_Romeo_Alfetta) in both
GT and saloon should be considered. I had a 1979 Sprint Veloce that
was quite nice - the same model later got 2.5 and 3.0 V-6 engines
that had good reputations, but mine was the classic DOHC 4
cylinder. It's a Giugiaro design and he signed my owner's
handbook. The car and handbook are back with it's original owner

I was at a local "French & Italian" car show yesterday and saw more
Alfettas together than I have for years - probably 10. Also 5 Facel Vegas!

I talked a bit with a Swiss owner of a Maserati Quattroporte at the
show - a near perfect example bought from eBay.

Bob

[Ashley James]

It's all been completely beyond me as I have a 400! I chose it
because it looked stunning and a friend went to school with the last
Sir George, so had seen the cars around for years. I normally run a
MKVI Bentley that I've rebuilt over the years and altered to suit
slightly to suit long distance touring. It's silent, exceptionally
smooth, extremely comfortable with a ride that compares favourably
with the best moderns and it's performance is similar to the 400.
Therefore the raucous, bumpy, noisy and partly developed Bristol has
been a culture shock. After a 2 year rebuild, I'm nearly finished
doing the development work that Bristol didn't!

Work has included Alfin brake drums, an anti-roll bar, a Delco Remy
distributor, more or less a 405 engine and soon an MGB clutch and
close ratio box, a brake servo and finally, correctly jetted
carburettors. Not to mention huge amounts of additional sound
deadening, new felt seals and screws to hold down all the floors etc
and the best Motor Wilton. It's no Bentley but with it's overdrive,
it'll cruise all day at 80+, it corners exceptionally well, it's heavy
to drive and it's still noisy, but pretty astonishing for a '49 car.

Modern Bristols with Chrysler engines I'm less sure about, most are a
bit aesthetically challenged to my antique tastes, but the 410 is
really quite nice, I like Sam Frost's Royal Blue one with what R-R
call St James red hide, probably Conollys Vaumol. That's the one I'd
modernise if buy another.

Ashley

[legavroche]

''Bristolling''

Richard, I'm with you 100% on this one - it's in the blood!
As for explanations, it is sometimes difficult to explain the
inexplicable feeling we get for this marque.

[Des]

The 3 litre Rover suggested already, I found to make an excellent substitute
for at least the 2 litre Brizzers.
I've recently been overhauling one, to keep me occupied while I give up the
fags, and it's the first time I've been really up close to one, and many
things have surprisingly impressed me, (I'm surpressed) reminded me of my first
intimate moments with Bristols.
Set the tappets today, were left loose while running in, a right old inlet
over exhaust clusterfeck, but now the thing emulates a sewing machine, a very,
very quiet one, the distributor can actually be heard running. Now it occurs
to me that there's nothing I would want to change or modify about the Rover,
I can't say the same about the Bristol.

Best rear window opener setup I've ever seen would be late 80's 2 door
Nissan Sunny, 2 levers just behind handbrake, accessible by front or rear
occupant, operated hinged glass via cables, brilliantly simple.

[potential]

Admin note: I noticed Ken re-started this thread so I have copied across the relevant posts from the original thread which is now closed. Kevin.

--------------------------

Hi there

I don't own a Bristol but I've been tempted by them for a long time. I think I have the will power to wait until I find one in the condition I would want, rather than buy one requiring improvement. Along the way, I've been considering alternatives which have some of the Bristol qualities and I'd welcome opinions from this group on their suitability;

* A Mercedes W107 450 SLC seems understated, comfortable and well screwed together.
* A Lancia Flavia 1800 coupé has the engineering detail which drove Lancia to bankruptcy.
* A Rover P5 3L has the traditional interior and build quality which the Leyland era 3.5L didn't continue.
* A Reliant Scimitar SE4 coupé has the around town style and rorty V-engine.


Any good contenders I've missed?

I had suggestions ranging from Alfetta to Bentley T1 and the talk stirred up a few ideas such as Fiat 130 but I'd also be glad to hear any other.

For avoidance of doubt, there are other threads to discuss the number of dead bodies you can fit in a 411, whether they would have survived if the rear window was easier to open and if the Detroit Mob were responsible.

regards,
Ken

[Kevin H]

I have no idea what they cost, but I'll also offer the Glas V8 (2.6 or 3 litre). Otherwise known as the "Glaserati".

[Markus Berzborn]

Kevin, I can tell you that in Germany a good one costs more than 35,000 Euros.
But as you probably know, Glas went out of business decades ago (bought by BMW), so with no existing company backing the vehicle you really depend on marque clubs and so on if you want to drive such a car on a regular basis.

Regards,
Markus

[potential]

Originally Posted by Kevin Howard

I'll also offer the Glas V8

Lovely car - BMW took them over I think, not sure they ever made RHD though.

On the subject of German rareties - perhaps a Bitter CD (again, if I could find one)

[potential]

Originally Posted by potential

I have copied across the relevant posts from the original thread which is now closed. Kevin.

Thank you - just the thread went off topic so quickly and I'd really appreciate some opinions from people who know Bristols well.

[Markus Berzborn]

Originally Posted by potential

On the subject of German rareties - perhaps a Bitter CD (again, if I could find one)

This car is still quite affordable.

It has nice looks and solid GM mechanics, but it is really only a two-seater and it looks faster and sportier than it actually is.

I like the dashboard of the car, which is very similar to the Opel Diplomat of the period. This was a big car with the same American 5.4 litre V8 as the Bitter, intended to compete with the Mercedes S-Class. Although nowadays the model portfolio of Vauxhall and Opel is practically the same, the Diplomat had no equivalent in the Vauxhall range of the time, as far as I'm informed. Actually, the Diplomat was a rather good car (I remember it from my childhood and youth) but it did not sell because of the marque image. People who could spend that much money mostly preferred Mercedes-Benz or BMW back then.

The Bitter CD (CD stands for "Coupé Diplomat" actually) often had plush velours seats inside. Its appeal is really very much "seventies" from today's point of view.

Regards,
Markus

[Kevin H]

Originally Posted by potential

Thank you - just the thread went off topic so quickly and I'd really appreciate some opinions from people who know Bristols well.

No problem at all. Although we stayed on topic for over 20 posts before some other things started to creep in. That's quite good for Bristol forums

Thinking more about this and the grand cars of the 1960s and 70s, most, if not all of them had their own character and quirks which attracted certain individuals, so it is quite difficult to make direct comparisons and offer genuine alternatives. I feel you really need to be more specific about the key selection criteria so that we can make objective suggestions.

[Ashley James]

Jensen CV8 is a fantastic car with real character and Bentley Turbo
Rs are as cheap as chips and a grin. Both are unique although CV8s
are less expensive to sort out.
T1 Bentleys and Shadows are sluggish, troublesome and handle
dreadfully, even with the handling kit fitted. My Shadow II was a
terminal understeerer, cost me huge sums of money and still broke down
far too often.

If you don't mind going more slowly then a good MKVI Bentley is one of
the greatest of all cars and absolutely astonishing for it's age.
75-80 mph with a 3.4 to 1 axle is an all day cruising speed and
comfort, ride and silence is as good as the better moderns.

As for big rovers, IMO the 3.5L car is a much better drive.

Ashley

[seanmcs]

I had a Mark VI and I thought it was a bit of a tractor. Very heavy.
But I never did much to it.

I always liked the Lancia Bs; but never did buy one. A couple of the
blokes here had one but surprisingly let them go in favour of the
Bristols. So, coming home.

Sean

[spoonera]

There's always euthenasia.

[potential]

Originally Posted by spoonera

There's always euthenasia.

My current car has already tried that.