What has happened to Bristol Street Motors?
Up to that point, Vertu had operated three separate retail brands but after celebrating its centenary in 2024, the Bristol Street Motors name disappeared from dealerships in April 2025 when they were all rebranded to Vertu; creating one network of dealerships across the country. After being placed in receivership and being taken over in 2011, it entered liquidation in February 2020. Bristol was always a low-volume manufacturer; the most recent published official production figures were for 1982, which stated that 104 cars were produced in that year.There are 234 Bristol Street Motors dealerships in the United Kingdom as of March 07, 2024.Up to that point, Vertu had operated three separate retail brands but after celebrating its centenary in 2024, the Bristol Street Motors name disappeared from dealerships in April 2025 when they were all rebranded to Vertu; creating one network of dealerships across the country.Post liquidation (since 2021) In 2021, intellectual property rights to Bristol Cars were registered by Bristol Fighter Limited, a subsidiary of Bristol Manufacturing Limited, owned by Essex based investor and property developer Jason Wharton, with revocation of 297 defunct trademarks.
What is Bristol Street Motors now called?
Established in 2006, Vertu Motors plc set out with a strategy to consolidate the UK motor retail sector. In early 2025, the Bristol Street Motors and Macklin Motors brands were rebranded to Vertu, uniting the same great colleagues, cars, and customer service under one name. We’re part of the Vertu Motors Group, which launched in 2006 and also trades under the names of Vertu Motors, Bristol Street Motors and Macklin Motors. You’ll find our Headquarters in Gateshead, but our Vertu Motorcycles Centres can be found in Sunderland, Stockton, Grantham and Nottingham.
Does Bristol Cars still exist?
After being placed in receivership and being taken over in 2011, it entered liquidation in February 2020. Bristol was always a low-volume manufacturer; the most recent published official production figures were for 1982, which stated that 104 cars were produced in that year. Bristol Cars has announced that it is planning a comeback with a new range of models, coinciding with the marques 80th anniversary in 2026.