Bristol 410.
This photo, kindly supplied by Leo, sees him stood alongside a Bristol 410, registration 901 MJH, in the 1970s. The car was, at the time, in the ownership of one Lady Shawcross, who lived in Cowbeech, East Sussex.
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The 410 was an evolution of earlier V8 Bristols. The first of this series, the 407, saw the Chrysler V8 engine mated to the 406, thus creating the 407 in 1961. In 1963 this evolved into the 408 and, in 1966, the 409. The 409 and 408 are very similar to look at, the earlier car being identifiable by its rectangular radiator grille, replaced on the 409 with one trapezoidal in shape. Under the skin, power from the 5,211cc engine was improved slightly. More importantly, this was the first Bristol to be offered with power steering, optional on early cars, standard fitment on later examples.
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Models 410 (1968) and 411 (1969) would see the car advance while still sharing the same basic styling of the 409. In 1975 things at Bristol Cars underwent something of a revolution, as out went the dignified, gentlemanly lines of the previous cars, to be replaced by the questionably-styled (IMO) Bristol 412, penned by Zagato.
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Return to Page 13 in the classic & vintage car photo gallery.
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