Bristol - Bristol 411
The Bristol 411 was introduced in 1969. Chrysler had made a larger 6277cc "383" engine which was built in the Canadian Windsor plant. Predominantly because of new US emissions testing rules, for Chrysler to be able to get similar power under these conditions the engines had to be enlarged in capacity. Outside the USA these restrictions did not exist so the new Chrsyler was quoted at 335hp, a healthy improvement on the previous engines 250hp. The body shape on the 411 was refined further, in conjunction with wind tunnel testing. There was now particular attention being paid to the suspension of the 411 with the use of radial ply tyres, which concluded that for 1969 the set up on the 411 recommended the use of the 185R15 size tyre. There were a number of Series of the Bristol 411, with the Series 3 having a restyling at the front that gave it a smarter look. The Bristol 411 was produced up until 1976. In 1976 Bristol cars offered to rebuild a customers used Bristol 411 into a new car they would call 411 Series 6 with replacement 5.9 litre fuel injected engines and 4 speed automatic gearboxes (replacing the old 3 speed) along with all "mod cons" to the customers requirements.
Bristol 411 Series 1 cars were fitted with 185R15 radial tyres from the factory. These are cars we are told that go to chassis number 7550. One could today also consider fitting the same diameter but wider 205/70WR15 tyre size.
Bristol 411 Series 2 and 3 cars had listed the 205R15 size. However we would recommend today the fitting of the 215/70VR15 size, not because they cost so much less from Blockley, but the Blockley 215/70VR15 tyres built specifically for these period cars will handle better. We would recommend the Blockley radial alternative 215/70VR15 for the Series 4 and Series 5 Bristols also .
See full details of these 3 tyre sizes at the links below:
