Bristol KSW 5G
Built: 1952 · Series: Other models
More machines from model year 1952
Not the right version? The data comes from vehicle registers holding many near-identical versions side by side. Photograph the data plate — we read make and type from it. Open the scanner e-mail address required
Bristol – other models: the collective page for the British bus maker active until 1983, from the K chassis through the Lodekka range (FS, FLF) to the rear-engined double-decker VR/VRT, five- and six-cylinder
This page gathers vehicles from Bristol Commercial Vehicles, the British commercial-vehicle maker that, until 1983, built chiefly bus chassis. The model list in the register ranges from the classic front-engined K chassis (KSW) through the low-height double-decker Lodekka range in the FS and FLF versions to the rear-engined double-deckers VR and VRT, which Bristol built from the mid-1960s onward. Bristol was for a long time closely linked with the bodybuilder Eastern Coach Works (ECW), which produced most of the bodywork, and supplied mainly state-owned British bus operators.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The register lists 18 versions here with five- and six-cylinder engines, unladen weights from 6,177 to 10,765 kg, gross weights from 8,100 to 16,266 kg and widths from 2,270 to 2,530 mm; for part of the models, displacements of 5,200 to 10,500 cc and lengths of 8,220 to 9,400 mm.
Bristol vehicles shaped bus travel across much of Britain for decades, especially within the state-owned Tilling Group network; the Lodekka range was known for its especially low overall height, allowing passage under low bridges, while the VR and VRT ran as rear-engined double-deckers in service well into the 1980s.
On surviving Bristol vehicles, the condition of the frame and bodywork, especially on ECW-built bodies, the condition of the commonly fitted Gardner diesel engines, the gearbox and braking system, and on double-deckers the structural soundness of the upper deck all count; spare parts are today obtained mostly through vintage-bus clubs and specialists.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: Bristol (weitere Modelle)
Technical data
Engine
| Cylinders | 5correct |
|---|
Dimensions and weights
| Width | 2,430 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 5,080 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 7,940 kgcorrect |
| Gross vehicle weight | 8,450 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Wheels | 4correct |
|---|
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Bristol KSW 5G weigh?
The unladen weight is 7,940 kg.
What is the gross vehicle weight of the Bristol KSW 5G?
8,450 kg.
What engine does the Bristol KSW 5G have?
5 cylinders.
When was the Bristol KSW 5G built?
Production years: 1952.
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Check the weights in the papers against the figures here — attachments change them.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
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This page carries 8 individual figures for this model. They come from 1 recorded source; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
The technical data on this page comes from official vehicle registration records (RDW/Traficom), not from the manufacturer.
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Other models in this series
2 AXLE-RIGID BODY D/D BUS/COACH
2-AXLE-RIGID BODY
4D6G
BUS
BUS/COACH
D/D BUS/ COACH
FLF
FS6B
K
KSW5G
LG
LODEKKA FS 6 G
Sources: RDW — Dutch national vehicle register (retrieved August 2026) · How we check the data
Truck in 3D section
Turn the model, look inside and click an assembly — each one is explained.
