In 2010 the Bristol Aeroplane Company Ltd.
(BAC) celebrated its centenary, marking 100 years of innovation, risk taking
and adventure. An important chapter of the developments in Filton has been
the emergence of a production facility for luxury cars in the aftermath of
the Second World War. Initially set up as a division within BAC in 1946,
Bristol Cars Limited, now a privately owned company, has been and is a
manufacturer of exclusive luxury transport for individuals. The
company's website gives ample information
on its existing production programme, while the history of the company can
be read at the
website of the Bristol Owners' Club, the
global association for Bristol car owners and aficionados.
The Centenary celebrations of
BAC
in Bristol included a festive event and dinner for Bristol car owners and
enthusiasts on September 17, 2010 in Bristol. The next day, Saturday
September 18, 2010, the celebrations were followed by the yearly Bristol Owners' Club Concours at Filton Airfield,
which coincided with the Airbus Family Day. The latter opened up the
opportunity for all present at Filton Airfield to visit premises and attend
a spectacular airshow of old Bristol Aeroplanes and new products of Airbus,
like the A380. The 2010 BOC Concours attracted over 160 owners to show up
with their Bristol car. An unprecedented number ....!
On Sunday, September 19, 2010, the BOC continued to celebrate and arranged a special entry at the Goodwood Revival Festival, allowing the
owners of Bristol cars to use an exclusive area in the pre-70-ties parking
and enjoy the Goodwood event at its best.
In the run-up to these events
the Continental Section of BOC organised the Bristols-to-Bristol Run;
Bristol cars from all over Europe met at the ports on the Continent
to cross over the the Bristish Isles.
Rendez-vous arrangements were made in Santander, Bilbao, Cherbourg, Calais, Ostende,
Hoek-van-Holland and Esbjerg; however, due to its central position on the
Continental coastline, the main event started on September 16, 2010 near
Calais where both the Chunnel and ferry are available.
This ultimate event brought about an unprecedented move of Bristol cars: 35 cars from all over Europe
travelled back to the UK; several of these cars had not been back for decades; some even never after
their initial sale as a new car. In the UK they were joined by another 70
cars, all of them aiming to reach the City of Bristol to celebrate the great
occasion : BAC 100 !
With at least one car from each model
produced participating,
we claim that it has been the ultimate
Bristol car exhibit
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BOC's
Secretary for Continental Europe (
eurosec@boc.net ) was the focal point of the organisers for this event
and remains available for all Bristol car owners and enthusiast anywhere in
the world for information on the marque and future activities..
Please click on any of
the pictures above to view more pictures of the event.
(Courtesy and thanks to
all providers of photographs for the galleries; pictures in this website can
be copied for private/non-commercial use only)
Email:eurosec@boc.net,
Phone: +31.6.55323330 or
Post: Teb Marius,
Gemeentebroek 1,
6231 RV Meerssen,
The Netherlands.
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