Bristol [1] (United Kingdom) - AllCarIndex

Bristol Motor Co. was an early British automobile manufacturer that operated from 1902 to 1908 in Bristol, England. The company was founded by William Appleton, who provided the engineering expertise, and Arthur Johnson, who managed the administrative aspects of the business. Unlike many of its contemporaries, Bristol designed and constructed most of the components for its vehicles in-house.

The company's first model was a two-cylinder 10 horsepower vehicle, which drew inspiration from the contemporary Daimler design. In 1906, Bristol produced a four-cylinder 16/20 tourer with a displacement of 3053 cc, which is preserved at the Bristol Industrial Museum. Despite its innovative approach, Bristol Motor Co. faced challenges in the market, selling only 20 cars before ceasing operations in 1908. Following the closure, Arthur Johnson transitioned to the Bristol Carriage and Wagon Works.

In 1924, Johnson established a successor company, Bristol Motor Co., but this new entity did not engage in vehicle manufacturing. Instead, it focused on developing agencies for other automobile brands.