The Weird & Wonderful Bristol 412

This is a Bristol 412, it’s a classic GT car that many haven’t seen before, even in Britain where it was originally built. The body was designed in Italy, the engine was sourced from the USA, and the cars were built at the Bristol factory in southern England.

Bristol was one of those unusual British automakers, a little like Morgan, Lister, Caterham, Marcos, or TVR, that produced vehicles in very limited numbers for a very specific clientele.

Fast Facts – The Bristol 412

• Bristol Cars appeared in the years immediately after WWII to provide work for the employees of the Bristol Aeroplane Company. The post-wartime demand for aircraft plummeted but demand for automobiles was high.
• Bristol became known as a builder of high-quality luxury cars that were favored by the upper class, the company had a single showroom, positioned on the corner of Kensington High Street and Holland Road in London.
• The Bristol 412 was introduced in 1975 as the replacement for the Bristol 411, it featured a new more angular body designed by the team at Zagato in Italy with an American V8-based drivetrain, and a classically luxurious Bristol interior.
• Just 98 examples of the Bristol 412 were built at a starting price of £14,584, the approximate equivalent of £130,200 or $170,100 USD in 2022.

The Bristol Aeroplane Company

During the Second World War the Bristol Aeroplane Company was absolutely critical for the Allied war effort.

An air to air photograph of Bristol 156 Beaufighter toward the end of the type’s RAF service. Image courtesy of BAE Systems.

The British company built a number of aircraft that were heavily relied upon, perhaps none more so than the Bristol Beaufighter, a multirole aircraft, a long-range fighter, night fighter, ground attack aircraft, and torpedo bomber.

The company had been founded in 1910 after a chance meeting between Sir George White, chairman of the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Company, and American aviation pioneer Wilbur Wright in France in 1909.

Sir White quickly realized the potential of the aviation sector, particularly given the fact that many aircraft manufacturers at the time were run by enthusiasts with little business training.

He established the Bristol Aeroplane Company as an entirely professional endeavor, run by experienced businessmen, with a working capital of £25,000 – a king’s ransom at the time.

Bristol rose to become one of the most important aircraft manufacturers in the country, supplying military aircraft for World War I and World War II. In 1959 the company was joined with English Electric, Hunting Aircraft, and Vickers-Armstrongs to form the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC).

The Bristol 412 was designed as a luxury grand tourer, the interior was upholstered with leather, the dashboard had walnut woodgrain trim, and all four seats were very comfortable.

BAC was then nationalized along with Scottish Aviation and Hawker Siddeley to form British Aerospace, which then became BAE Systems – now the largest defense contractor in Europe.

The Bristol 412

During WWII the team at Bristol were already formulating plans to enter automobile production in earnest after the war. They would eventually enter into a short-lived agreement with Frazer Nash to build a new car based on BMW underpinnings which had been licensed as war reparations.

This new car would be named the Bristol 400, it was an elegant two-door luxury car powered by a modified version of the BMW 328 engine sitting on a version of the BMW 326 chassis with a new body built by Bristol.

The 400 series Bristols would continue and by 1961 with the release of the Bristol 407 the company had switched to using American V8s from Chrysler. In 1975 Bristol released a new design with a radically different body from the team at Zagato in Italy, it was called the Bristol 412 and it would remain in production for almost 20 years.

The targa-typwe roof incorporates a removable hardtop that can stow in the trunk, it has a fold down rear section, and the main roof section includes a roll bar for safety.

The styling of the Bristol 412 has long been controversial. It’s very much a car that people either love or hate, with little room in the middle. The 412 was produced over two series with two primary variants produced, the Bristol Beaufighter and the Bristol Beaufort – both named for WWII-era Bristol aircraft.

Bristol 412 – Engines & Transmissions

When it was first released the 412 was powered by Chrysler B series gasoline engines with a displacement of 6,277cc (383 cubic inches). Power was sent to the rear wheels via a Chrysler Torqueflite automatic transmission and no manual option was ever offered – these were intended as luxurious grand tourers not sports cars.

From 1977 onwards the 412 was powered by the 5,899 cc (360 cubic inch) Chrysler V8, and the front suspension was modified to account for the lower weight of the engine.

The unusual squared-off bodywork was accompanied by a targa style roof. The roof panel could be quickly removed and stored in the trunk when required, the roof also incorporated a hefty roll bar for safety.

Inside the cabin you’ll find a luxuriously appointed interior with leather upholstery and a woodgrain dashboard. Interestingly the heating and ventilation system was designed by the same engineers who designed the ventilation system for the Concorde.

The engine fitted to this Bristol at the factory was the 5.9 liter Chrysler Pentastar V8, a powerful and reliable unit for which spares are easy to find.

There is comfortable seating for four and the suspension is tuned for comfort rather than sharp handling.

Between 1975 and 1993 there would be 98 examples of the Bristol 412 built, many of which still survive and are sought after by collectors and enthusiasts. As with all Bristols they still command relatively strong prices, typically around the £40,000 to £50,000 mark.

The 1980 Bristol 412 Shown Here

The Bristol 42 you see here benefits from much recent work including a newly upholstered interior in red leather, new carpets, a new folding roof, new seat belts and a restored targa top.

The steel chassis is reportedly in good condition as are the original alloy body panels, the paint is also original and the wheels are in overall good condition.

This car is powered by the later 5.9 liter Chrysler Pentastar V8 with power sent back through a Torqueflite automatic transmission, this all means that spare parts for the drivetrain are both inexpensive and easy to come by.

This Bristol is now being auctioned live online with Car & Classic, if you’d like to visit the listing to read more or register to bid you can click here.

Images courtesy of Car & Classic

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The Skoda S110R: The “Porsche Of The East”

This is a Skoda S110R, affectionally known as the “Porsche 911 of the east” by many of its owners due to the fact that it’s a rear engined, rear wheel drive, two-door coupe 2+2 with a fastback rear end.

Of course, this comparison is perhaps a little generous, however it’s important to remember that back in the 1970s behind the Iron Curtain there were very few sports cars being made – so vehicles like the Skoda S110R were the stuff of legend.

Fast Facts – The Skoda S110R

• The Skoda S110R was released in 1970, it was essentially a shortened coupe version of the Skoda 1100 sedan sharing the same engine, transmission, suspension, and brakes.
• Despite its humble origins the racing version of the Skoda S110R, the 130RS, would prove surprisingly successful in competition, winning its class in the Monte Carlo Rally in 1977 alongside a slew of other wins in rallies across Europe.
• While Skoda itself had a somewhat questionable reputation before it was acquired by Volkswagen in the year 2000, the Skoda S110R has always remained popular, largely due to its rally victories, engaging driving characteristics, and affordable price tag.
• The Skoda S110R has a steel unibody chassis, a rear-mounted 720-type OHV four-cylinder 1.1 liter engine producing 62 bhp, independent front and rear suspension, and a 2+2 seating arrangement.

Škoda: From Bicycles To Automobiles

Although many of us may mot realize it, in recent years Skoda has grown to become a highly respected automaker with a profit margin second only to Porsche within the Volkswagen AG group of companies.

Václav Klement (left) and Václav Laurin (right), founders of Czech automobile manufacturer Laurin & Klement, which later became Škoda. Image courtesy of the Skoda Auto Archive.

The company had humble origins as a bicycle manufacturer, originally named Laurin & Klement, based in Turnov in the modern day Czech Republic. After bicycle production began in 1896 the company soon began developing motorized bicycles and motorcycles, releasing their first automobile in 1905.

Interestingly this makes Skoda the fifth oldest continuously operating automaker in the world, after Daimler, Opel, Peugeot, and Tatra.

During the difficult years of the Soviet Union the company, then known as AZNP, produced inexpensive and simple automobiles to suit life behind the Iron Curtain. By Western standards they were typically a few years behind then times, and the difficultly faced by the company in sourcing parts and materials showed through in the final product.

Many Skodas were exported to Western European countries however they developed a reputation for inferior quality that followed the company for decades.

Above Video: This footage from the 1977 Monte Carlo Rally shows the Skoda 130RS racing alongside cars like the Porsche 911 and the Lancia Stratos. The humble Skoda would take a class win.

Volkswagen began acquiring a significant stake in Skoda in the early 1990s, by the year 2000 they owned 100% of the company. In the years since this takeover Skoda has become a respected automaker once more, now worth billions of dollars and manufacturing hundreds of thousands of cars each year.

The Skoda S110R

The Skoda S110R was developed in the late 1960s on the Skoda 1100 sedan unibody platform. It was shortened and given a new fastback style roof, however much of the car was mechanically either similar or identical to its four-door sibling.

There were relatively few sports cars being built behind the Iron Curtain, certainly far fewer than were being made in western Europe, so cars like the S110R developed a cult following and tended to enjoy local levels of desirability on par with western rivals like Porsche, Jaguar, or Alfa Romeo.

The interior has been returned to original specification, with orange and black seats, black door cards and orange carpet – all the rage in the 1970s.

The steel unibody chassis of the S110R was fitted with independent front and rear suspension, and a rear-mounted 720-type OHV four-cylinder 1.1 liter engine producing 62 bhp. Power was sent to the rear wheels via a 4-speed manual transmission, and the car had front disc brakes with rear drums.

Though not particularly powerful the car tipped the scales at just 880 kgs (1,940 lbs), so performance was acceptable by the standards of the era (and region).

The S110R had a top speed of 145 km/h (90 mph) and a 0 – 100 km/h (62 mph) time of 18.5 seconds. Fuel consumption was 8.5 liters per 100 kms or approximately 28 mpg.

Skoda released the S110R in 1970 and sold them for a decade before replacing the model with the Skoda Garde in 1981. It enjoyed strong sales with almost 57,000 sold through the decade, a number of which were exported for valuable foreign currency.

This car benefits from a full bare metal restoration, the engine has also been rebuilt, and the car returned to original factory specifications throughout.

Today the car is considerably more rare due to the fact that many were lost to rust, and after the fall of the Soviet Union cars like the S110R were considered vastly less desirable than vehicles built west of the Berlin Wall.

The 1975 Skoda S110R Shown Here

The S110R you see here was sold new to Finland in 1975, the current owner bought it from Finland years later and exported it to Slovakia where it has been given a bare metal restoration to original specification, including a full engine rebuild.

It’s finished in bright orange with an orange and black interior, the seats are velour covered with deeply contoured bases and headrests for sporting driving.

This is easily the nicest vintage Skoda we’ve ever had on Silodrome, it’s interesting to note that as former Eastern Bloc countries continue to grow economically the residents have increasing buying power to finally acquire the dream cars of their youth – many will have lusted after a nicely sorted S110R back in the 1970s.

Editor’s Note: The listing for this car seems to have been deleted since this story was written, we’ll update the link if it’s re-listed.

If you’d like to read more about this car or register to bid you can click here to visit the listing on Car & Classic. It’s currently being auctioned live online and it’s based in Slovakia.

Images courtesy of Car & Classic

 

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Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Is For Sale

There are few movie and theater cars more beloved than Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, it formed the backbone of a rags to riches tale of adventure, intrigue, and daring that became one of the most popular children’s stories of all time.

There’s a good argument to be made that two of the most famous cinema cars of all time are the modified Aston Martin DB5 from James Bond, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang from the movie of the same name. Both were the work of Ian Fleming, who had written the original 007 books and the novel Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Fast Facts – Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

• The original Chitty Chitty Bang Bang film was released in 1968, it was based on the book by the same name by Ian Fleming.
• The screenplay was written by Roald Dahl and the musical score was composed by the Sherman Brothers – the same team who wrote the music for Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Charlotte’s Web, and countless other films.
• In the film six different cars were used to showcase Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’s various functions. The later Broadway musical made do with a single car that had all the functions incorporated into it using hydraulics and electronics.
• The car you see here is the original Broadway car, the musical started in 2005 and ran for 34 previews and 285 regular performances before embarking on a nationwide tour in 2008.

Ian Fleming, James Bond, And The Flying Car

Ian Fleming famously first told the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang stories to his infant son at bedtime, after he suffered a heart attack in 1961 he sat down to write the stories into novel form, so his son could still enjoy it even if Fleming himself died.

Above Film: This is the trailer for the 1968 film “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” based on the Ian Fleming novel of the same name.

Sadly this is exactly what happened, Fleming would die in 1964 after finishing the book but before it was published. Interestingly he had written the entire book by hand because his wife had confiscated his typewriter in a futile attempt to force him to rest.

Fleming had worked for Britain’s Naval Intelligence Division during the Second World War, in this role he had been deeply involved in various top secret missions, many of which he had personally conceived.

He would write his first James Bond novel, Casino Royale, in 1952. The book proved so popular that three back-to-back print runs were ordered in an attempt to meet demand.

Fleming would write 11 Bond novels and two collections of short stories between 1953 and the time of his death in 1964, two of his novels would be published posthumously.

The Broadway car was had all of its various functions built into it, including both the wings and rotors for flight and wheels that fold in.

Among adults his most famous works are his 007 novels, but among children the stores surrounding Chitty Chitty Bang Bang are legendary. The the subsequent film’s soundtrack by the Sherman Brothers forms an integral part of the soundtrack of many young people’s lives even today, 54 years after the film was first released.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Film Cars

A number of “official” Chitty Chitty Bang Bang cars have been built over the years, the most famous being those that were used in the film, and the one used in the Broadway musical that later toured the United States.

The first Chitty Chitty Bang Bang cars were designed by Ken Adam, to follow the descriptions given in the book and subsequent screenplay. They feature a wooden boattail rear end, a highly polished alloy front, and many brass fittings and fixtures throughout.

Six cars were actually made for filming, only one of which was actually drivable. This many cars were needed in order to allow for all of the functions of the car, including the flying and hovercraft modes.

The film car and the Broadway car are clearly very similar, in fact it would likely be difficult to pick them apart.

Interestingly, that one drivable car was bought at auction in 2011 by New Zealand film director Sir Peter Jackson for $805,000 USD and added to his private collection where it remains today.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Broadway Car

The car you see here was built many years after the book was first published and after the film was first released. It was handbuilt in the early 2000s as part of a multi-million dollar investment to bring the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang story to the stage on Broadway in New York.

Whereas the film had six cars the musical could have just one, and it needed to have all of the functionality built in, it also needed to be capable of being suspended from the ceiling on wires to simulate the flying scenes.

The car would be used in all 34 previews and 285 regular performances on Broadway before embarking on a national tour with the show.

It’s now being offered for sale with a price guide of £30,000 – £50,000, which works out to approximately $37,800 – $61,100 USD. The car comes with a Playbill and a theater program from the production, the car measures in at 16 ft 5 in long x 66 in wide x 76 in high (500 cm x 167.5 cm x 193 cm), overall each wing is 98 in (249 cm) wide.

If you’d like to read more about it or register to bid you can click here to visit the listing, it’s due to roll across the auction block with Bonhams on the 4th of May in London.

Images courtesy of Bonhams

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