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The V8 Bristol has outlived all its Euro hybrid competitors: while Jensen, Gordon Keeble, Iso and Monteverdi have foundered, Bristol has ridden out every storm by keeping small, and selling cars - still alloy-bodied and separately chassis'd - to a discreet and discerning few.
Today's Blenheim is a direct descendant of the 407 of 1962, a radically different car for Bristol that eschewed the traditional straight-six engine and transverse-leaf-spring front suspension for a big, all-iron Chrysler V8 and conventional wishbones and coils.
Although the 407 and 408 were fast and impressive, their handling and balance were badly compromised. The first really nice V8 Bristol was the 409: its engine sat further back in the chassis for better handling and it also had the benefit of power steering - a sensitive ZF set-up reckoned to be one of the best in the world.
Subtle styling changes gave the 410 of 1968 a smoother line, while the first of the 411s of 1970 had a lower ride height with clipped fins, less brightwork, a limited-slip differential and, best of all, an even bigger 6.2-litre engine. Series 2 411s (1970) had auto self-levelling, the Series 3 (1972) models entirely new front-end styling with twin 7 in lights, and the Series 4 (1973) a yet bigger 6.6-litre engine, delivering 330 bhp. The last-of-the-line Series 5 411 (1975) had a black grille, stiffer chassis and improved cooling.
Despite their patrician looks, the bigger-engined cars could touch 140 mph and featured dragster acceleration that left heavier luxury machines floundering. Such performance, combined with whispering refinement, tasteful bespoke ambience and well-honed chassis balance, gave them a unique appeal.
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