Like Armstrong-Sidney, Bristol Cars was a branch of an established aerospace company and launched its first motorcar in 1947, the Bristol 400. The 400 was really a revised version of the pre-war BMW 2-litre, built with a timber framed body featuring steel panels. Later models had their own unique styling and featured lightweight bodies constructed using the Superleggera method.

Bristol also supplied its own overhead valve engines to other British manufacturers including AC, Cooper and Frazer-Nash. Bristol themselves continued to use the six cylinder engine until 1961. Since the end of six cylinder engine production all Bristol cars have used US Chrysler engines and the latest models continue this tradition, mixed in with their "love it or hate it" quirky, British appeal.