Enjoy Pastoral Smells In The 1955 Bristol 403 - Jay Leno's Garage

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  • Опубликовано: 18 ноя 2024

Комментарии • 3 тыс.

  • @spyonthesoftparade
    @spyonthesoftparade 3 года назад +260

    The automotive community is so lucky to have Jay Leno letting us experience his collection.

    • @murrieteacher
      @murrieteacher 2 года назад +4

      True, but it also allows him to include the maintenance costs of the cars as a tax deduction. Very clever.

    • @Alfsrapedungeon
      @Alfsrapedungeon 2 года назад +8

      @@murrieteacher thats a good thing lol, anything to pay less tax.. taxation is theft ;p

    • @Onemore59
      @Onemore59 2 года назад

      @@murrieteacher You don't know any accountants and you must be poor. Not clever. Typical accounting practices. If you ever own your own business you will take advantage of all the deductions. Accounting Practices are a huge secret to 90% of the people on the planet. NOT CLEVER. Completely normal.

    • @Onemore59
      @Onemore59 2 года назад

      @@Alfsrapedungeon IDIOT. The countries with the highest taxes in the world have the best quality of life and the longest living and healthiest and happiest people. Stupid and wrong. You don't own your own business and you are poor. If you ever find yourself successful and make some money you will hire a CPA and you will treat them like your God.

    • @murrieteacher
      @murrieteacher 2 года назад +1

      @@Onemore59 Why do I need to know an accountant? I have staff to look after that. Your arrogance is a product of your insularity.

  • @amirrashkan6216
    @amirrashkan6216 3 года назад +268

    Watching Jay Leno's garage is like a therapy...,

    • @a.castillo2190
      @a.castillo2190 3 года назад +21

      It seriously is. Been overly stressed the last few months but when I watch these videos I can escape for just a little bit and feel the stress go away.

    • @crystalclear5684
      @crystalclear5684 3 года назад +15

      Have always appreciated Mr Leno...our classic car guru, and a lovely, kind, and very intelligent guy! Listening to you is healing.....
      Thank you Jay💛😎💛

    • @barisondude7673
      @barisondude7673 3 года назад +7

      While I have dinner or before bed. I just make it a point to watch any new uploads. It is therapy for anyone who appreciates cars 🙏

    • @jasoncarpp7742
      @jasoncarpp7742 3 года назад +4

      I agree.

    • @jasoncarpp7742
      @jasoncarpp7742 3 года назад

      @Fredrik Larsson Absolutely! It's impossible to watch every episode and not enjoy them and learn something new and different about a car.

  • @colnuttall9035
    @colnuttall9035 Год назад +11

    The Bristol company and its cars hark back to a different era, when your word was your bond. An era when service was a pleasure and hedonism was unheard of. Now it seem that everybody is screaming their so called virtues, shameless self promotion is the norm and narcissism is far too common. There was an art form in succinct language usage and understated elegance. Bristol car evoke all the things we quietly aspired to. We admired someone for having a nice car, rather than envied them to the point of hatred and vandalism. The world has changed and I have a theory that the cars on offer reflect us. Cars are often so similar, because nobody wants to take a risk and ruin the money making formula. I adore Bristol cars for all the reasons I mention. The understated great engineering and not working to a cost. The minimalistic elegance, known only to the cognoscenti. Great video Jay, as always . From an Englishman living in Australia.

  • @mazdamaniac4643
    @mazdamaniac4643 3 года назад +137

    You know, when I was a kid going to car auctions with my dad here in the UK, I was confused when I'd see my dad look at an old rundown Bristol with this dampened smile on his face.
    I'd ask him why he'd smile like that and he said "Son, that's a beautiful car that has no right being in a place like this."
    It dawned on me years later when I was a bit older and wiser, that he loved that Bristol. He understood what it meant and what it stood for, he wanted to free it from it's fate and give it a good home, but we never had the money back then for stuff like that. He was happy for seeing such a beautifully understated car, but saddened to see the poor state it was in.

    • @Beeza56
      @Beeza56 2 года назад +16

      I know exactly what you’re talking about, my Dad was the same. Always loved Bristols although you very rarely saw them on the roads in England, even in the early ‘60’s. Superb motor cars.

    • @dadautube
      @dadautube 2 года назад +1

      well, surely the buyers in such auctions knew what they were after and would buy it for restoration or parts at least to be used on another Bristol in a better shape, not for the junk yard ...

    • @Lasertrac
      @Lasertrac Год назад +3

      sounds like you had an awesome father

  • @mrawesome2524
    @mrawesome2524 3 года назад +188

    This style of video where Jay talks to everyone like a proud uncle showing things he loves for us to enjoy is simply the best! Thank you Jay!

    • @TXGRunner
      @TXGRunner 3 года назад +4

      Very apt analogy. Good description.

    • @robert9754
      @robert9754 3 года назад +1

      My father was a huge fan of leno, and he really does feel like an uncle to me

  • @wallochdm1
    @wallochdm1 3 года назад +123

    The difference between "aircraft standards" and mass-produced automobiles cannot be overstated. I think Jay did a great job of illustrating how vast the quality gap can be. An amazing example of craftsmanship and engineering.

    • @fredshred5194
      @fredshred5194 2 года назад +2

      Well the fact that when the engine stops you don't fall out the sky may have something to do with it.

    • @johnwight6041
      @johnwight6041 9 месяцев назад +3

      100% agreed. Aircraft are on a completely different level with respect to reliability simplicity robustness and ease of maintenance

    • @wallochdm1
      @wallochdm1 9 месяцев назад +1

      @@johnwight6041 I would love to have one of these. Remarkable vehicle.

  • @beendoneagain
    @beendoneagain 3 года назад +362

    Jay is the one celebrity i can appreciate and respect. i love his passion for cars.

    • @pfflyer3381
      @pfflyer3381 3 года назад +12

      And passion about the people. The caretakers past. as he, the "custodian"

    • @autodidact537
      @autodidact537 3 года назад +4

      The only problem is that he is getting old & he constantly repeats himself which is too bad.

    • @kingspanky2794
      @kingspanky2794 3 года назад +16

      @@autodidact537 that's just life in front of the camera. He's just a human like the rest of us.

    • @ArthurZakaryan23
      @ArthurZakaryan23 3 года назад +11

      @@autodidact537 True that he does repeat himself but I don't mind, to me it's Jay's passion and enthusiasm that comes through and any car guy should appreciate that.

    • @weirdbeardgarage
      @weirdbeardgarage 3 года назад +4

      @@autodidact537 It wouldn't be a problem if the editor would catch that too... But I personally don't notice it that much, he is 70 years old after all.

  • @jeremytravis360
    @jeremytravis360 3 года назад +143

    My father always wanted a Bristol. He was a pilot in the RAF during the war and flew Bristol Beaufighters amongst many planes.
    He liked they way they used to make the car to measure.
    He ended up with a Wolseley 690 instead because he had 5 Kids.

    • @mrtomatolord
      @mrtomatolord 3 года назад +7

      well whenever i see a lambo or ferrari or other high end car - i look at my kid and take a breath and they go yeah yeah dad. we know you could have had that car but you had me instead....

    • @FourDollaRacing
      @FourDollaRacing 3 года назад +12

      Must be a true story, because Jay Leno has a Bristol and ZERO kids....

    • @andrewread154
      @andrewread154 3 года назад +5

      No shame on owning a 6/90. They were a good car in their day

    • @jeremytravis360
      @jeremytravis360 3 года назад +4

      @@andrewread154 I know they were a good cars and he kept it till 1962

    • @debschaefer7820
      @debschaefer7820 2 года назад

      I had to go check out the Bristol Beaufighter online. What did the person who sat in that little bubble in the middle of the plane do? I couldn't see from photos if they had a gun or not.

  • @The_R-n-I_Guy
    @The_R-n-I_Guy 2 года назад +33

    I don't know how many times I've watched this episode. I just love that car. And the way Jay speaks of it makes it all the better.

    • @mikewinston8709
      @mikewinston8709 8 месяцев назад +2

      Correct. Me too. It’s a delicious motor car and the only car, as a man indifferent to cars that I am envious of ownership….🇬🇧

    • @TrystonL7
      @TrystonL7 2 месяца назад

      Me too

  • @JoakimMiller67
    @JoakimMiller67 3 года назад +46

    Cannot express how much we love what Jay does for automobile history, all car lovers thank you so much.

    • @spike7038
      @spike7038 Год назад

      So true…..can watch these all day.

  • @FastNBulbous
    @FastNBulbous 3 года назад +363

    Leave it Jay to make me want a car that I have literally never heard of.

    • @Caplax40
      @Caplax40 3 года назад +8

      You might enjoy this video of their later Fighter model. Viper V10 powered!
      ruclips.net/video/Py8tjm6AqkE/видео.html

    • @dwightbetten5280
      @dwightbetten5280 3 года назад +4

      That's right the mascara snake, fastandbulbous.

    • @FastNBulbous
      @FastNBulbous 3 года назад +1

      @@dwightbetten5280 Also, a tin teardrop.

    • @grazianop2706
      @grazianop2706 3 года назад +2

      Me too.

    • @afrog2666
      @afrog2666 3 года назад +2

      Hehe, nice one

  • @olspanner
    @olspanner 3 года назад +47

    When I was 14 years old, in Melbourne , Australia the Dealership next to where I worked sold Citroen and Bristol vehicles. I remember, the day, I first saw a Bristol 403 in their showroom, the very same colour as your car. I thought at that time, and still do , that it was the most beautiful car I had ever laid eyes on. And now I have watched your video , which provided such an informative insight to the car of my dreams , I thank you. I am now 81 yo.

    • @Mike-br8zt
      @Mike-br8zt 3 года назад +3

      I last saw this car in NSW (Camden area).

  • @ColinHarvey78
    @ColinHarvey78 3 года назад +150

    What a beautiful, understated and elegant car. A bit like Jay’s talks on these cars - a class act.

    • @mescko
      @mescko 3 года назад +2

      That was Bristol.

    • @sixstrings1490
      @sixstrings1490 3 года назад +7

      Had to put my bib on to watch the video, very envious of Jay Leno but grateful for his excellent review
      a novelty to see him drive a RHD British car too ! What a sweet old ride ! 😎

  • @juanmillaruelo7647
    @juanmillaruelo7647 3 года назад +54

    LJK Setright was probably the best English writer about motor cars, motorcycles and even aircraft. He was a brilliant and engaging writer with boundless technical knowledge and a plethoric, creative mind. A man to remember. He must have about 100 or more books, not counting his magazine contributions.

    • @stevedickson5853
      @stevedickson5853 3 года назад +5

      Setright...a fitting name

    • @cerealtiller
      @cerealtiller 2 года назад

      His Affectionate Nickname was IIRC NGK Sparkright?

    • @slimjimjohn4671
      @slimjimjohn4671 2 года назад +7

      I certainly miss his endpieces at Car And Driver. What a writer.

    • @kneedeepinbluebells5538
      @kneedeepinbluebells5538 2 года назад +4

      " ... plethoric ... " Wonderful Adjective - Bravo Sir !

    • @lfo414
      @lfo414 2 года назад +6

      His pontifications and his supposed justifications for his biases were legendary. He was quite delightfully mad.

  • @johnetherington782
    @johnetherington782 3 года назад +46

    As some of you may already know, Bristol Cars went into receivership look last year. All the tools etc went to auction as did a number of cars described as "restoration projects". The Bristol showroom in London (Knightsbridge) also went under the hammer. Luckily for those who are fortunate to own a Bristol there seem to a number of specialists in the UK who can and do maintain these cars.

  • @alexlang5649
    @alexlang5649 3 года назад +259

    It's great when Jay starts pulling out the owner's manuals...

    • @paulm6481
      @paulm6481 3 года назад

      Why?

    • @simonlloyd7557
      @simonlloyd7557 3 года назад +4

      'do not drink contents of battery'.

    • @geoffcalleeney8403
      @geoffcalleeney8403 3 года назад +7

      @@paulm6481 I'd imagine its a bit like toys in their original packaging. Not only does Jay have the car in pristine condition for its age. It also still has with it the original owners manual. Obviously the comparisons Jay makes in the video is valid as well, cars these days are more so rented to the consumer than owned with how much information companies restrict about the car.

    • @nellfuncky305
      @nellfuncky305 3 года назад

      Yes, cool the way the manual comes in the same colour as the bodywork .

  • @christophernewman5027
    @christophernewman5027 3 года назад +45

    Thank you, Jay, for the best way to start 2021. 😊
    I worked for Bristol at Filton from '79 to '85 and this brought back many happy memories.
    We used the Bristol engine until the 406; every Bristol from then used American engines from Chrysler.
    By the way, the vast majority of people in the UK have never heard of Bristol Cars and will probably never see one in their lives so God knows what they make of it over in the USA!
    Also, you mentioned the superleggera construction. What you neglected to say was that the body panels were all handmade from aluminium. When it was up on the ramp, you could also have pointed out the torsion bar rear suspension. 😊

    • @orwellknew9112
      @orwellknew9112 2 года назад +7

      I thought I saw torsion bars. Jay missed a few things, but there was already so much he found interesting. Obviously he is a big fan.

    • @lesliesutherland4080
      @lesliesutherland4080 2 года назад +2

      When we were kids we could look out our front window and see the factory!

  • @washubrain
    @washubrain 2 года назад +36

    Apart from the great pleasure we all derive from magnificent Jay's collection, I have a word to say about the way he presents these beauties. The relaxing manner and calm voice with some nostalgic vibes to it, contribute greatly to the experience from these videos. Thank you Jay, hope to see many more videos of yours in the years to come.

  • @avp217
    @avp217 3 года назад +28

    I used to subscribe to Autocar in the '70s, even though I'm American. My neighbor, who used to own a Morris Minor and a Morgan, turned me on to it. I enjoyed the writing of LJK Setright. (The magazine came in a manila envelope, and they suffixed my name with "ESQ" even though I was a teen at the time. That struck me as sooo English!)

    • @chrissometimes7473
      @chrissometimes7473 3 года назад

      @M Bacon He was actually a qualified lawyer but didn't enjoy it as a career, so he changed to automotive journalism.

  • @martiniv8924
    @martiniv8924 3 года назад +140

    My dads wartime buddy had a 403 , the last time we all met was in the early 80’s at a club meet in Warwickshire, Beautiful car 👌🏻🧐 ....... LJK Setright was pure class as a journalist, both motorcycles and cars .

    • @peterwalley2355
      @peterwalley2355 3 года назад +10

      Totally agree with you about Setright - I loved reading his musings on cars & motorcycles👍

    • @grandudetonesnob7107
      @grandudetonesnob7107 3 года назад +5

      As a teenager, I remember coveting that Honda/Egli CBX that he had, as well as his penchant for all things prosaic.

    • @gazfish
      @gazfish 3 года назад +6

      LJK was so eloquent, nobody since has matched him

    • @silvereith
      @silvereith 3 года назад +3

      Long John Kickstart had his betes noirs as well as his loves. However well the Porsche 911 was developed he could not forgive its engine placement and slated even the very best examples.

    • @martiniv8924
      @martiniv8924 3 года назад +1

      @@silvereith yes I seem to remember he had some disdain for the 911’s layout, I can forgive him for being wrong on that one 😉

  • @Silver3ides
    @Silver3ides 3 года назад +9

    I got called to the factory in Patchway, Bristol about 20-25 'ish yrs to sort the alarm out , We chased a bloody Pigeon from one end to the other for about an hour :) ..What an amazing place it was ,with the original tooling , panels all done by hand , not a robot around .. suspended it time it was , Wood panel office's , vintage filing cabinets with the drawings in .Jon, Bristol UK

  • @13thdukeofwybourne69
    @13thdukeofwybourne69 3 года назад +39

    As a young lad growing up in England, I was always partial to Bristols. In fact I still admire them today.

    • @L0stJ0hnny
      @L0stJ0hnny 3 года назад +19

      It's always nice to see one - even better if there's a pair.

    • @jimififul
      @jimififul 3 года назад +13

      @@L0stJ0hnny Naughty boy! Lost on our American cousins I fear!

    • @MrOlgrumpy
      @MrOlgrumpy 3 года назад +4

      Agreed,a fine pair of Bristols is a sight to behold ! or beholden or -----

    • @geriatricmotorcars9516
      @geriatricmotorcars9516 3 года назад +3

      As a kid growing up in London
      I would get the tube train into the city '
      In remember in the early seventies
      Going to the Earls court motor show , and less than a mile up the road
      Was the Bristol Showroom
      They only had one 🤣
      They were low numbers hand made
      And in instilled me that they were a cut above anything else '
      Reserved for gentry and somebodies'
      I need not apply :)
      Sad demise about 10 years ago when they ceased trading .
      Fond memories , of when British was best 👏

    • @geriatricmotorcars9516
      @geriatricmotorcars9516 3 года назад +1

      Beautiful
      Thanks Jay Bravo

  • @555Trout
    @555Trout 3 года назад +38

    A car I know nothing about.
    That is one of the most beautiful colors I've ever seen on a car.

    • @vicjones3992
      @vicjones3992 3 года назад

      Ruby red

    • @555Trout
      @555Trout 3 года назад

      @@vicjones3992 I was reading they only made three cars a week!

    • @Rasscasse
      @Rasscasse 2 года назад

      I very strongly agree, it’s a stunning colour.

  • @JohnWilliams-hw9yn
    @JohnWilliams-hw9yn 3 года назад +28

    I saw my first 403 on the road last weekend. It was absolutely stunning, and despite being nearly seventy years old the guy behind the wheel drove it through roundabouts like it was a low flying plane.
    I wish that more tv was made like this. Beautifully shot and edited, just letting the subject and the presenter, all with terrible music that just annoys. Fantastic.

  • @The_R-n-I_Guy
    @The_R-n-I_Guy 3 года назад +44

    I love the sound of that engine. That exhaust is perfectly tuned for it

    • @ericbrunner4140
      @ericbrunner4140 3 года назад

      I take it that the shoulder belt was original to the car? If so, another example of aircraft philosophy. Jay, thanks for showing us this car that I previously knew nothing about.

  • @scotsman46
    @scotsman46 3 года назад +21

    I love how you appreciate the Bristol. In the 1960's, our local village vet in Scotland drove nothing but Bristol cars.

    • @nicfewer8393
      @nicfewer8393 3 года назад +3

      Our doctor here in Waterford, Ireland, too!

    • @kevgermany
      @kevgermany 3 года назад +1

      And all the customers objected to his fees...

    • @Rasscasse
      @Rasscasse 2 года назад +1

      Definitely shows how much money there was in being in the vet business!

  • @thetooner8203
    @thetooner8203 3 года назад +5

    I wasn't having a good day but a virtual tour of and ride in your Bristol with you turned it around. Thank you Mr. Leno.

  • @NickRatnieks
    @NickRatnieks 3 года назад +32

    Back in the 1950s when the Bristol Aeroplane Company was making your car, elsewhere in the company's plants, they were making the Bristol Olympus turbojet that powered the Vulcan bomber and later the Concorde.

    • @slimjimjohn4671
      @slimjimjohn4671 2 года назад +4

      Vulcan Bomber. What a beautiful aircraft.

  • @ableone7855
    @ableone7855 3 года назад +7

    Jay was born to do these presentations! The Tonight Show was just a short distraction until he could get around to Classic Car presentations. I enjoy this as much as the Tonight Show!

  • @3milyeagle
    @3milyeagle 3 года назад +18

    I'm from the UK and can vouch for the undersold nature of these cars. I would go as far to say that most people in the UK have not heard of Bristol Cars, and most of the people who have don't know much about them. I might never aspire to own one, but I think it is such a great shame to lose yet another unique car manufacturer.
    Thank you for the excellent review. :-)

  • @mikewysko2268
    @mikewysko2268 3 года назад +58

    Bristol sleeve valve aircraft engines were a masterpiece of engineering.

    • @andyharman3022
      @andyharman3022 3 года назад +4

      I wish that Bristol had built their auto engines with sleeve valves.

    • @hazeljones5272
      @hazeljones5272 3 года назад +6

      W A N T • S Ę Х • My name is Rita ! So Rita do you have nice Bristols

    • @yinyangja
      @yinyangja 3 года назад +6

      @@hazeljones5272 I've been reporting Rita to keep Jay's comment section decent.

    • @autodidact537
      @autodidact537 3 года назад +3

      Sleeve-valve engines burned too much oil because of the poor sealing.

    • @andyharman3022
      @andyharman3022 3 года назад

      @@autodidact537 Are you thinking of the Willys-Overland double sleeve valves, or the Burt-McCollum single sleeve valve?

  • @craigcolavito5606
    @craigcolavito5606 3 года назад +25

    The stories of the Bristol showroom and buying experiences are legendary.

    • @iancarr8682
      @iancarr8682 3 года назад +11

      The only Bristol car showroom was in London and their demonstrator had the number plate reading 100MPH, class

    • @flappospammo
      @flappospammo 3 года назад +5

      I recall the time Michael winner came up to the door and Tony crook flipped the sign round to closed 😂

  • @billcobbett9259
    @billcobbett9259 3 года назад +17

    Thank you for namechecking Setright, one of the best motoring writers of all time. I still remember his pieces in 'CAR' magazine.

    • @paulreilly3904
      @paulreilly3904 3 года назад +3

      Me too, I remember his pieces about Honda's and especially his admiration for the Toyota Soarer, amongst many others. We are very lucky to have had the benefit of his knowledge and literacy.

    • @kevgermany
      @kevgermany 3 года назад +3

      Loved his pieces in Bike magazine as well.

  • @sevensupersport
    @sevensupersport 3 года назад +46

    The steering apparatus in aircraft is called the Yoke. Bristol also made the body shells for the Lotus Elite, which is a beautiful delicate car that is missing from your collection Mr Leno

    • @gonefishing9350
      @gonefishing9350 3 года назад +2

      And that was not a joke.....

    • @jasonhensch4703
      @jasonhensch4703 3 года назад

      sevensupersport
      Is that like a rack? It kinda looked like it I noticed

    • @francoismontresmecaniques7082
      @francoismontresmecaniques7082 3 года назад +2

      Agreed the Elite is a major car in automobile history.
      That being said, I would love to see a video of the black Talbot Lago. Another magnificent car.

    • @cathalfolan8441
      @cathalfolan8441 3 года назад +2

      I think he has an elise? he definitely has an elan

    • @moyadapne968
      @moyadapne968 3 года назад +2

      @@jasonhensch4703 The yoke is the control column in a 'plane. The rack (and pinion) is the steering on some cars. This Bristol appears to have one.

  • @graycav56
    @graycav56 3 года назад +54

    When Jay dips into the throttle and those triple carbs cut in...that’s the “Bristol Stomp” I love!

    • @josephgaviota
      @josephgaviota 3 года назад +5

      _"Let's all do the Bristol Stomp"_ Ah, another old memory :-)

  • @dracula-dead
    @dracula-dead 3 года назад +26

    Something so "family" as Jay ages and we along with him. Life in it's simplest form.

  • @discoverlight
    @discoverlight 3 года назад +24

    I get so excited whenever Jay says “let’s put it up on the lift”

  • @brytuber
    @brytuber 3 года назад +14

    Pastoral every step of the way...from the smell of the (clean!) oil drop underneath, the wooden dash and Solex carbs, to the Eucalyptus trees along the drive. Thanks to Leno's Garage for every minute they put into making this video and maintaining this example of a Bristol. It is such a gift to us all.

  • @rupert.redboots
    @rupert.redboots 2 года назад +12

    Thank you for presenting and describing this wonderful Bristol so well. My late father, an artist, designer and forward thinker, once had one, and they've been a family favourite ever since. You have brought to life, my father's vision and experience of owning and driving one, which is fantastic. Thank you for your enthusiasm.

  • @petecox8649
    @petecox8649 3 года назад +238

    Jay! English cars don't "leak", they are just marking their territory.

    • @shossainimam
      @shossainimam 3 года назад +17

      Your comment is really hilarious .

    • @johnsmulders8535
      @johnsmulders8535 3 года назад +13

      And rust-proofing..

    • @joachimjacobsson4877
      @joachimjacobsson4877 3 года назад +13

      Trying to retake the colonies are you?

    • @sparky6086
      @sparky6086 3 года назад +26

      Don't worry if they leak. Worry, if they stop leaking, because that means, that they're out of oil!!!

    • @petergamache5368
      @petergamache5368 3 года назад +6

      Nonsense! Everything British leaks: MI5 leaks secrets, British ships leak seawater, Lucas electrics leak smoke...

  • @mikewysko2268
    @mikewysko2268 3 года назад +31

    We finally get to see a Bristol!!🇬🇧
    Thanks Jay.

    • @cnsious
      @cnsious 3 года назад +1

      Hear, hear. My father drove a 405, then a 406 - great cars

  • @kevincoombs7348
    @kevincoombs7348 Год назад +1

    A great episode.
    In the '60/70's I sold aluminium to Bristol Cars Filton and would often see company owner Anthony Crook test driving prototypes, always with reg 100MPH or MPH100.
    Good race record, the car and the man.
    In '54 the build three 450's to race at Le Man. They came 1,2, & 3rd in their class. And again the following year.
    Makes me proud to be Bristolian!

  • @areyousureyouenteredyourna85
    @areyousureyouenteredyourna85 3 года назад +13

    The British always seem to be all about simplistic elegance. This car is a fine example of that. Thanks for sharing it with us, Jay!

  • @MrMenefrego1
    @MrMenefrego1 3 года назад +7

    I love my car collection but Jay, *REALLY, REALLY, REALLY LOVES HIS CAR COLLECTION!!* It's so nice to see a man like Jay having the ability to not only restore and enjoy automobiles, but to share them with such sheer excitement as well.

  • @odnetnin4720
    @odnetnin4720 Год назад +1

    Part of the magic Jay had with this show….it’s primarily him talking, but it feels like your having a conversation with him as he goes through the vehicles. Very interesting to watch and feel involved.

  • @liverush24
    @liverush24 3 года назад +41

    It handles so well for a car with no handles.

  • @deecee784
    @deecee784 3 года назад +28

    Understated Elegance.
    That's what was told to me about Bristol's by a Bristol owner.

  • @francismallette
    @francismallette 3 года назад +3

    Thank you so much for this discovery Mr. Leno,
    I enjoyed the history of this aircraft company making aircraft quality automobiles, well tought out. I enjoyed discovering this most british, understated car with unique features like: free wheeling, one shot lubricant sytem, hood opening on two sides and the aircraft inspiration of the steering wheel, the 2 bladed fan, the super leggera construction and its aerodynamic shape with no door handle. Thank you very much Mr. Leno, this is such a wonderful discovery!
    Bristol doesn't brag about the superleggera construction. We know it's light, because we know its weight.
    Bristol doen't brag about the aerodymic of the car either. We don't know how efficient it is, because we don't know its Cx (drag coefficient).
    This is a well thought car, that looks pretty sleek, made by an aircraft company. The aero dynamic of this car must have been well studied and tested. I surely would like to put this Bristol 403 in a wind tunnel to find out its Cx. This jewel hasn't revealed all its wonder.

  • @Metalovai
    @Metalovai 3 года назад +21

    Love that dashboard!

  • @DJ-xl8xh
    @DJ-xl8xh 3 года назад +5

    Thank you Jay!! Anyone who wants to correct or criticize Jay on any issue should do so with courtesy and respect for what he does in presenting these treasures in a fun and friendly informative manner ..... “Thank you Jay!!”👍

  • @haroldgodwinson832
    @haroldgodwinson832 3 года назад +10

    That is one hell of a beautiful car! My Dad used to fly in Bristol Beauforts and Beaufighters in WW 2. He would have loved this car. Oh and by the way; the Bristol Centaurus wasn't an aircraft; it was an aircraft engine.

  • @smacdiesel
    @smacdiesel 3 года назад +10

    You can tell Jay really likes this car, he seems so relaxed!

  • @troller3155
    @troller3155 3 года назад +34

    Someone’s posting Jay Leno’s Garage videos under the upload name “Jay Leno’s Garage YT” and the only way to notify RUclips of copyright infringement is if you own the copyright, so I’m hoping this post gets noticed and something can be done about it.

    • @tommurphy4307
      @tommurphy4307 3 года назад

      so you know that because you tried to turn somebody in??

    • @TXGRunner
      @TXGRunner 3 года назад +2

      Unfortunately, there are some parasites in the world who profit off of reposting content from others. BigTech is too concerned with politics and suppressing speech to take any measures to squash these bugs.

  • @henrybowden9907
    @henrybowden9907 3 года назад +1

    Apparently there was a saying: If you came into money you bought a Jag or even a Roller but if you had class you ORDERED a Bristol. My dad served his apprenticeship with Bristol and before he was called up into the Royal Navy toward the end of the war, he was making wing and body panels for Bristol cars and Beaufighter aircraft. He told me stories of some of the tricks employed to get the cars past final inspection - such as inflating one front tyre more than the other to compensate for a difference in the height of the wings. His tools were incredible with a huge range of metal planishing tools, hammers with strange heads, 'files' with extremely fine teeth and even wooden tools which he used when going for the high finish required before painting. Most of those skills have been lost now as cars are thrown together.

  • @metubeochannel
    @metubeochannel 2 года назад +11

    Really loved this car, thank you Jay for showing it to us. I'm glad you enjoy driving it around, it's good to see it used by someone who appreciates its qualities.

  • @julianadams2206
    @julianadams2206 3 года назад +22

    As a UK viewer a Bristol has a special place in our automotive history. Wonderful review of an equally wonderful car.
    I just love Jay's anecdotes from his Tonight show days.

    • @raypurchase801
      @raypurchase801 2 года назад +4

      Some people drive like they own the road.
      A person who drives a Bristol probably DOES own the road.
      Except, being Bristol owners, they're much too polite to say so.

    • @TheClockwise770
      @TheClockwise770 2 года назад +1

      Yes, fully agree. beautiful designed car. They even featured a 403 taking Fiona Bruce driven at the beginning of Antiques roadshow a couple of year ago

    • @Rasscasse
      @Rasscasse 2 года назад +1

      @@raypurchase801
      I think you have that exactly right sir 👍

  • @pagarb
    @pagarb 2 года назад +1

    It might not be memory lane for some people but it is for me. I remember Bristol cars from when I was a kid. It's great to see Jay Leno enjoying himself so much in it, he does a great job of conveying the character of these cars.

  • @Fred_Bender
    @Fred_Bender 3 года назад +11

    Rick Ostman
    16 July 2018 ·
    With the posts about the early astronauts and their Corvettes, I thought I'd post this.
    This was (pic) Wally Schirra's Maserati 3500 after my Dad, and Uncle Russ, swapped the six cylinder Maserati engine for a 327 Corvette engine, circa 1966. Wally blew up the original engine racing Gus Grissom down A1A one night. He had it towed over to our shop. My Dad suggested the engine swap. Three days later a truck from Jim Rathman's delivered the Corvette engine and 4 speed transmission.
    Wally was happy with the new engine. He took my Dad and I to Wolfies for breakfast before school. I was a very impressed 4th grader at Freedom 7 that day!
    My Dad passed in June 1998. About a year after that I get a call at home from someone looking for my Dad. I explained I was a Jr. and that he had died. "Oh, maybe you can help me?" he says. "I have all the service records for a Maserati I just bought. It has a Corvette engine. One invoice shows your Dad installed that engine for Walter Schirra. Is that any relation to the astronaut?" I filled him in on the whole story, including that I still had the original, unrepaired engine in the back of my shop. He was ecstatic! Drove down from Atlanta the next weekend and bought that engine so he could complete the circle.

  • @davefellhoelter1343
    @davefellhoelter1343 3 года назад +6

    Jay is the Car God to Honor the "past" and our "Future"!
    Thank You for Honoring Our ancestor's and their ingenuity!!
    You make all of us feel like your best buddy, and neighbor with the same interests!!
    Less! Is More!

  • @BCVS777
    @BCVS777 3 года назад +2

    I love how mr Leno presents these videos like he’s just visiting with a friend. It makes it very pleasant to watch! Thanks

  • @SmokyPondFarm
    @SmokyPondFarm 3 года назад +13

    Great timing! A week ago I was reading about the Bristol 406 and the monstrous 407 in the December 1962 issue of Car and Driver. Beautiful cars, the 403 especially!

  • @Horizon344
    @Horizon344 3 года назад +43

    "One of the greatest driving experiences" - high praise from a man as knowledgeable as Jay, for what looks like a 1960's Jaguar that needs to go on a diet.

    • @dorienberteletti2129
      @dorienberteletti2129 3 года назад +2

      It does not have Superleggera written all over it, because the British were embarassed to have had to use Touring to design the car for them. Best keep it quiet that it was designed in Italy The hood opening from either side is no different than a 40s Buick.

    • @UglowD
      @UglowD 3 года назад +3

      @@dorienberteletti2129 Touring didn't design the car, Bristol just adopted the Superleggera form of construction.

    • @harryballzack
      @harryballzack 3 года назад +3

      It does look like a Jaguar XL size. 😂 It still looks sexy though.

    • @mrbennetts
      @mrbennetts 3 года назад

      @@UglowD Bristol definitely adapted the Touring design, which was no bad thing. See the pre-war Alfa 6Cs and 8Cs, and Touring made the 401 prototype.

  • @MegaBoilermaker
    @MegaBoilermaker 3 года назад +1

    thank you for your comments re the British people/character. I worked for the Bristol Aircraft co and I can vouch for your comments re their attitude to quality and craftsmanship

  • @audikris
    @audikris 3 года назад +15

    What a cool car!!! Thanks again Jay, for sharing your amazing collection with us, and making many of us suffering from cabin fever feel a ton better!!!

  • @colehara
    @colehara 3 года назад +322

    The old owners manual told you how to adjust the valves on the engine.
    Today's owners manual warns you not to drink the contents of the battery.

    • @worldtraveler930
      @worldtraveler930 3 года назад +20

      It's a shame that it's Such a True statement.

    • @johnrebus1641
      @johnrebus1641 3 года назад +27

      That's because people who drive modern cars really are that stupid ! A lot of Bristol owners would have been smart enough to do their own maintenance. Pilots actually had to know how to fly aeroplanes then.

    • @alex35agm
      @alex35agm 3 года назад +33

      Cars have gotten smarter but the owners have gotten dumber.

    • @lawrencelewis8105
      @lawrencelewis8105 3 года назад +18

      I once read the owner's manual of a 1960 Porsche 356 that I was involved in restoring. It just about told you how to rebuild the engine. The introduction said something like, "Thanks for choosing a new Porsche 356, it shows that you are no freshman when it comes to sports cars." Yeah, you are a guy who likes to go off the road backwards, roll over, hit trees and die.

    • @mastrofnone8025
      @mastrofnone8025 3 года назад +5

      And people say there is no dumbing down going on in America.

  • @firstnamelastname8060
    @firstnamelastname8060 3 года назад +6

    It's important to note that the Superleggera construction was not performed in-house by Bristol. The coachwork is by Touring of Milan, Italy. Someone took the "Superleggera" emblem off. You can see where it used to be on the rear below the "403" emblem. A shame that Touring received no mention. Fantastic car! This is what I love to see in your videos, Jay!

    • @DarkKnightwing75
      @DarkKnightwing75 Год назад +1

      They never had Superleggera badging and whilst that was indeed a Touring trademark, 401s, 2s and 3s coachwork was not by Touring. They bodied several 401s but the production model was designed by Bristol, inspired by Touring’s designs.

  • @mosipd
    @mosipd 3 года назад +89

    Even the cover of the owner's manual looks like war department documents.

    • @MrDaiseymay
      @MrDaiseymay 3 года назад +4

      looks like leather, not rexine, and the same colour of the car

    • @klaushaunstrupchristensen7252
      @klaushaunstrupchristensen7252 3 года назад +4

      To me it looks like a passport.

    • @lawrencelewis8105
      @lawrencelewis8105 3 года назад

      I saw the owner's manual for a 1957 Ferrari. There was a picture of the car and a woman who could be a stand-in for Sophia Loren next to it. She was wearing a skin-tight cotton print summer dress that could barely contain what was within. Damn she was a sight!

  • @dannyvancauwenberghe
    @dannyvancauwenberghe 3 года назад +5

    I love that you don't nag me about Corona, but just do your thing. A small positive point in these difficult times. Thanks for that.

  • @donhathaway3234
    @donhathaway3234 3 года назад +11

    Of all the cars you have presented to us over the years, this one really piques my interest in knowing how it feels to dive one. Your ability to describe how it feels makes me sad that I’ll never share that experience.

  • @zelphx
    @zelphx 3 года назад +5

    It just blows me away... how can ANYONE give any of Jay's videos a thumbs down?
    As it stands now, I see 131 of them; these "viewers" must be very demented.

  • @Runningnthe90s
    @Runningnthe90s 3 года назад +11

    Can we all just agree how much we like seeing the undersides? I want that to continue

    • @alexbrown1995
      @alexbrown1995 3 года назад

      Yep, you get to see Michelin ZX tyres which must be 50 years old, unless they still made that tread pattern.....

    • @kattcasel9730
      @kattcasel9730 3 года назад +1

      @@alexbrown1995 I like seeing the undersides as well. Part of the oil drips situation is Jay does not wet wash his cars. Running mine thru the "no touch" car washes keeps mine rinsed off. Wonder how he cleans the engines and underneath areas.

    • @kevgermany
      @kevgermany 3 года назад +1

      Yes, live looking at the undercarriage of a nice pair of bristols

  • @andrewmoorhouse687
    @andrewmoorhouse687 3 года назад +2

    Beautiful car. I remember reading LJKSetright’s monthly column in Car (magazine) in the ‘80s and ‘90s. His knowledge of automobile engineering was legendary, as was his often wandering into Latin in his prose. He was truly educational and intellectually challenging; I lost count of the number of times I had to resort to the Oxford English Dictionary to look up a word that he had used! He loved any marque of car that put engineering before marketing. Bristol was a real favourite (I think he may have owned one at some stage), along with Citroën and Honda (I remember he owned a Prelude and applauded its double wishbone suspension and VTEC engine). LJKS drove the first Lamborghini Miura bound for the UK from the factory in Italy. So impressed was he with the car’s performance that he coined the word Supercar to describe how impressive it was. The first time it had ever been used and a word we now take for granted. He was a true legend. Bristols were a very rare sight, even on UK roads and very expensive. Pretty sure they were Rolls Royce sort of money rather than Jaguar. I wonder if Bristol picked BMW as they started out as an aero-engine manufacturer? Thanks for sharing another of your wonderful cars Jay. Happy New Year.

  • @SimonPass230267
    @SimonPass230267 3 года назад +8

    Even in England ANY Bristol is a rare sight. Saw a blue 403 on the M40 motorway on the way to Oxford and posted it on Facebook. And it belonged to a mate of mine's Dad by pure coincidence. Lovely looking car.

    • @pashakdescilly7517
      @pashakdescilly7517 3 года назад +2

      A few days ago in south London I saw a Bristol 401, which is very little different from Jay's car. Owner just out for a drive

    • @mw8653
      @mw8653 3 года назад

      I've only seen them at the Kensington showroom looking through the window, the entrance door was locked. And at the Haynes Motor Musium in Yeovil Somerset, but never seen one on the road in the UK.

    • @SimonPass230267
      @SimonPass230267 3 года назад +1

      @@mw8653 My Dad's mate used to turn up at our house in a BRISTOL 412 SERIES 2 CONVERTIBLE in white. This was a car he and his dad in particular lusted after. I would describe it as an aquired taste. Styled by Zagato apparently. One of their off days I would suggest.

    • @mw8653
      @mw8653 3 года назад +1

      @@SimonPass230267 I would agree with you on the looks I didn't like the 412 or the rear of the 603s, the 410/411 are my favourites with the V8 power they would I imagine have been a pleasure to drive.

    • @SimonPass230267
      @SimonPass230267 3 года назад +1

      @@mw8653 I think if you own a Bristol, you will care little what others think. That's the privilege of being in that club. Vive la différence.

  • @rogerbarrett9920
    @rogerbarrett9920 3 года назад +8

    I love reading Setright's articles, he was so enthusiastic about bikes as well as cars. I miss the sort of well explained but never boring reviews that he did - great video.

  • @yelyab1
    @yelyab1 3 года назад +1

    In 1963 I had to write a paper for typing class . I got Hot Rod, Motor Trend, and Road and Track. I did a comparison of European and American cars. I was 15 years old. The Americans won based on styling, performance primarily. This mid 50s mid lux car looked a pre war American car. The engines were cast iron tractor engines. 4 cylinders, push rods, roofing nail valves, and double digit horse power. All the mentioned special engineering features don’t compete with win on Sunday sell/buy on Monday. The teacher not knowing much about cars was impressed with my enthusiasm and I got an A, one of very few. Reflecting, I was testosterone intoxicated. Some of the crap that the fat 3 pushed out the door would get a slightly different audit. 19 years as a product design engineer had something to do with that. Still love cars. Can’t get enthusiastic about golf carts, I don’t care if they can pull enough g’s to make you lose consciousness.

  • @Ampex196
    @Ampex196 2 года назад +7

    The shots of the underside had me scratching my head for a brief moment.
    I've never seen lever arm and telescopic shocks used together like this with torsion bars. When we get to the front, the transverse leaf spring comes as another surprise.
    For 1955, it would have been advanced. Michelin X were the first radial ply tyres that most would encounter back in the day when crossplies ruled.

  • @AlexC981
    @AlexC981 3 года назад +8

    What a great after Christmas day!...Started with Jay and Donald on the east coast at the Audrain museum and now the Bristol on the west coast.

  • @michaelhaverty541
    @michaelhaverty541 3 года назад +1

    Having grown up as a child in in England.
    My uncle had a Bristle. One of my fondness memories of this car was a moonlit night, riding in the back from the Lake District back to Devon . And listening to the old BBC radio. It was magical. Thank you Jay for sharing a very understated automobile.

  • @autohut3720
    @autohut3720 3 года назад +11

    I love how that inline 6 sounds! Very throaty but refined

    • @mescko
      @mescko 3 года назад +1

      No other engine can duplicate that straight-six snarl. None.

  • @alanchouston
    @alanchouston 3 года назад +19

    Great show, Jay: You explain the mystery of the Bristol brilliantly and the fact that even in England very few people knew of it. This video brings back memories of my college friend Rob, whose family had Bristols in the late 60's which they drove daily as well as taking on hill climbing races at the weekends. Keep posting your great classic cars: such an antidote to the dreariness of pandemic lockdown!

  • @211212112
    @211212112 3 года назад +3

    I think this is my favorite out of all the ones I’ve seen him display.

  • @michaeldonaher2851
    @michaeldonaher2851 3 года назад +12

    What a great show Jay almost relaxing to ride with you.

  • @lovelygarden2673
    @lovelygarden2673 3 года назад +5

    Love your shows, it's like listening to a bedtime story of the good old days, such beauty and style.

  • @kubibear2890
    @kubibear2890 3 года назад +2

    Your comments about LJK Setright were so profund as was his writing. His writings for Car Magazine were the high light of my Month. His articles you could read over and over. Thanks for remembering him .

  • @colinpettit3448
    @colinpettit3448 3 года назад +103

    The cover on the owner's manual is the same colour as the car. How cool is that ?

    • @tonys1636
      @tonys1636 3 года назад +7

      Just coincidence, the cover is maroon Morocco leather.

    • @colinpettit3448
      @colinpettit3448 3 года назад +1

      @@tonys1636 Lovely coincidence

    • @philbrown6787
      @philbrown6787 3 года назад

      I really like the color, too

    • @zzgarden
      @zzgarden 3 года назад

      The car matches the owner's manual.

    • @charlie1832
      @charlie1832 3 года назад

      In general I’m not a fan of anything red but this car I actually like the color it’s painted

  • @mikewysko2268
    @mikewysko2268 3 года назад +6

    Well though out interior design. The dials, switches and wood work on the dashboard looks magnificent.

  • @cliffordnicholls4067
    @cliffordnicholls4067 3 года назад +1

    Thank you Jay for showing us the Bristol 403, a gentleman's car.

  • @mereclander
    @mereclander 3 года назад +17

    Very stylish and “british”. You could never say it is italian.
    I liked the vídeo, thanks Jay!!!

  • @bikkiikun
    @bikkiikun 3 года назад +24

    The "M" on the "Enricher" likely stands for Mixture (just like in an aircraft with a piston engine).

  • @sporkfindus4777
    @sporkfindus4777 2 года назад +1

    How great is it that Jay shares his and others' cars with us in such detail. And the fact that he's read the books by all the old car writers warms the heart. He was also praising the recent work of the Bristol car company even though they'd just gone out of business, so no incentive to endorse for Jay, in this commercial-driven world.

  • @misterdanielsiii
    @misterdanielsiii 3 года назад +56

    Jay knows more about his 200 vehicles than I know about myself

    • @rgschmitt44
      @rgschmitt44 3 года назад +6

      Closer to 350 if motorcycles are included

  • @VitalityMassage
    @VitalityMassage 3 года назад +53

    18:07 It even SOUNDS like an airplane!

  • @danjensen7483
    @danjensen7483 2 года назад +2

    Enjoyed Mr. Setrights writing on motorcycles as well as cars

  • @boogiebonefan
    @boogiebonefan 3 года назад +4

    Thanks for mentioning my favorite automotive writer. I remember reading one of L.J.K. Setright’s columns where he mentioned that that his Honda Prelude had a Bristol Owner’s Club bumper sticker.

    • @corners3608
      @corners3608 3 года назад

      I remember Setright saying he owned a Mk 1 VW Scirocco and how much he liked it. I had one at the same time... made me feel pretty good in my choice of car.

    • @donaldstewart3799
      @donaldstewart3799 3 года назад

      He used a write a column in Car magazine every month

  • @methanial73
    @methanial73 3 года назад +9

    Absolutely beautiful. Take care Jay.

  • @williammailes4581
    @williammailes4581 7 месяцев назад +2

    When I was about 18 in 1964, I bought a Bristol 400 for £40. Came with a spare gearbox- pre select -which I had to fit, and I had it for a few months before the engine broke. No way I could afford a reconditioned engine at £500 . Very happy to have taken my mother for a ride in this beautiful limousine. Body was all aluminium painted in opalescent blue. A great experience for a working young man. I sold it with the broken engine for £40.

  • @bcgrittner
    @bcgrittner 3 года назад +38

    Years ago I had a 1958 Morris Minor. The owners' manual was also a complete repair manual. I should have never sold that car.

    • @neil03152
      @neil03152 3 года назад +1

      all mine had done over 100,000 miles, great car and years ago I helped someone start theirs because, despite knowing car people around, I was still an expert with the old starting handle!!!!!

    • @seanoreilly1832
      @seanoreilly1832 3 года назад

      My cousin did a full rebuild on a morris minor in Australia over 5 years... 1 week after it was done a bushfire burnt down the shed it was stored in. Tragic

    • @gingernutpreacher
      @gingernutpreacher 3 года назад

      It's easy to say but the framework rots and so does the body my dad sold one in the early 80's after being badgered to sell it them Fulham to turn up at the door a week later because the engine had fallen out at the traffic lights

    • @stevedickson5853
      @stevedickson5853 3 года назад +1

      @@gingernutpreacher ..lol ,had to laugh at that one, it's like something out of a tv comedy

    • @gingernutpreacher
      @gingernutpreacher 3 года назад

      @@stevedickson5853 agreed but it wasn't funny at the time my dad was just glad to get rid of them don't think he gave them any money back

  • @Skooter-nw3cm
    @Skooter-nw3cm 3 года назад +3

    Jay, you always make me feel as though I’m riding in the car with you, thank you.

  • @mattevangelou3491
    @mattevangelou3491 3 года назад +2

    I have the honor of owning a 1968 Bristol 410 here in the US. Its a magnificent automobile. I love it because no one here is the US knows what it is.

  • @IDann1
    @IDann1 3 года назад +42

    Watching a Bristol from its home in Bristol