BOHT Lecture Day at the Atwell Wilson Motor Museum. 19 April 2024

A very enjoyable and instructive day was had by all participants. If you were not able to be there, you can see videos of the talks  on the YouTube BOHT Channel. The order of the day is given below

  1. Introduction – What is the Heritage Trust up to?
  2. INRacing – Oliver Nuthall presents Bristol Engine Developments
  3. John Manley presents his new book “The Bristol 403”
  4. Chris Balfour talks about his book “Bristol 6 Cylinder Cars”
  5. Stefan Cembrowicz on Life in the Filton Works in the 1950s
  6. Auction of Bristol Ephemera

Richard Sanderson

Bristol 400 in The Automobile magazine

In the November 2022 issue of The Automobile

NO ORDINARY BRISTOL Ordered new by the chairman of the Bristol Aeroplane Company, then driven for a decade by arch-enthusiast Christopher Balfour, then uprated and campaigned in hill climbs and sprints by its next owner, this 1948 Bristol 400 is now in the hands of a young enthusiast. Toby Bruce tells its story……..

Jensen Service Bulletins by Richard Calver

Geoff Kingston provide the following information

This morning the postman delivered another new book produced and edited by Richard Calver. It is an edited reproduction of the original factory service bulletins mainly for the home market and non-USA market V8 cars covering the period 1963 to 1976 , so CV8, Interceptor and FF with the 383 cu in engine and larger and the 727 automatic gearbox. So on the mechanical side especially relevant to anyone with a 411 but also to some of the other cars before and after with the 727 gearbox and to a certain extent the other engine sizes where similar components were used. There are obviously bulletins covering issues relating to coachwork problems, mechanical issues specific to the FF but an awful lot of information relevant to some of our cars, I can see hours being spent over the coming days picking and choosing topics within the books lavish covers.

An example, bulletin 6/71/6 Subject Failure of Gearbox Kickdown Band or Clutch, only a few short paragraphs but clear and easy to understand and giving the mechanic all the pointers needed to confirm and rectify the problem, on the following page 6/71/8 covers oil pump failure, 6/71/7 Standard Torque Tightening of Bolts. So not a book if you wanted to know the history of Jensen cars but essential if you want to know how they were maintained and repaired in period including recommendations of alternative and upgraded parts.

As these cars shared a lot in common with the Bristol V8’s of this period, for anyone doing their own work or who works very closely with their mechanic this book could be a very useful addition to the motoring library. Available directly from the Author,  just search the title of this topic, or from some alterative suppliers he recommends at a typical price of around £100/£120, not cheap perhaps but worth every penny in my mind for the information contained therein.

See www.richardcalver.com/servbullbook.htm