Bristol 406

- Nigel Fryatt 

There’s an aristocratic essence toa Bristol, and so by associationthis rubs off on the owner. While you might look like you have ‘arrived’ if you owned a Jaguar XK150, the Bristol 406 merely stated that there was no need to ‘arrive’, since you’d been in this position from the beginning. It’s about breeding, you know.

Bristol’s history came from the aircraft industry, and for many, the 406 was the first model that looked like it had been created by a proper car manufacturer, rather than a company more used to producing aircraft. This 1958 luxurious saloon continued many of the traditions expected of Bristol models, but had a longer wheelbase, offering greater internal space. Its bodyshape was declared more modern than previous models, although the continuation of the ‘openmouth’ front does mean that the 406 is probably best viewed from the side, or the conservative and tidy rear end. There remains, however, elegance to the model, which set the trend for future Bristol designs and, as such, firmly establishes its importance in this manufacturer’s intriguing history.