Bristol

Year of foundation 1947-2020

Bristol Cars, a British luxury automobile company, has a fascinating postwar history.

Founded:
Its history begins in 1945, when the Bristol Aeroplane Company, a well-known aircraft manufacturer, decided to diversify its business after World War II.

Development and Production:
The first model, the Bristol 400, was introduced in 1947 and was inspired by pre-war BMW vehicles.
In the early years, Bristol maintained a connection with BMW engines, but from the 407 model onwards (1961), it switched to using Chrysler-sourced V8 engines, which became the basis for many subsequent models.
The company has always stood out for producing vehicles in very limited volumes, focusing on craftsmanship and exclusivity.

Crisis and Rebirth:
After facing financial difficulties, the company entered administration in 2011 and was acquired by Kamkorp Autokraft.
Despite being liquidated in 2020, the brand has been reacquired with plans to produce revised models starting in 2022 and introduce electric vehicles in the future.