01
Origins
By 1969 Bristol had settled its mature formula, and the 411 executed it best: a 6.3-litre — later 6.6 — Chrysler V8 and Torqueflite automatic in the marque's slim, aluminium-bodied four-seater, with the spare wheel behind a front-wing panel and performance that saw off contemporary Astons in the real world of wet A-roads. Self-levelling rear suspension and a limited-slip differential arrived through five series of continuous, unannounced improvement — Bristol's way — while the exterior stayed defiantly discreet. Around 600 were built to 1976, sold from a single Kensington showroom by word of mouth. The 411 is the car enthusiasts mean when they say 'a proper Bristol': faster than it admits, plainer than its price, and built for owners who considered attention vulgar.
Bristol 411 Series 6 · Paul Austin from United KingdomCropped by uploader Mr.choppers · CC BY 2.0
