Bristol Cars has always been an interesting company that has hand-built some distinctive cars. The company has had a checkered history with ongoing production ceasing in 2011 before limited production of a new model commenced in 2016. The Beaufighter is one of their hand-built cars and was in production from 1980 until 1993. This example is listed for sale here on eBay. Located in Wetherby, United Kingdom, it is offered with a V5 Document in the current owner’s name. Bidding on the Beaufighter has reached £1,120.
This Beaufighter is in need of a lot of TLC, as it looks to have had a fair amount of time to deteriorate. Given the car’s age and its general state, the body appears to be remarkably straight. Body panels for the Beaufighter are aluminum, so can be very prone to dents. There are a few obvious issues with the paint, and the soft-top will definitely need replacing. The windshield is also missing. so this may prove to be a costly item to replace. The seller gives no indication of the condition of the chassis.
As with most things related to a Bristol, the interior was designed to be a sumptuous, hand-crafted thing of beauty. To see such an interior reduced to this state is quite heart-breaking for a motoring purist. The interior looks like it has spent some considerable time exposed to the elements, so any restoration will require complete replacement of the interior. Once again, this is not going to be a cheap undertaking.
The engine for the Beaufighter was derived from Chrysler but was hand-built by Bristol to its own specifications. In this case, the engine was the 360ci V8, backed by a TorqueFlite transmission. The addition of a turbocharger certainly assisted with power production, although Bristol was always coy about this, and never released power or torque figures. However, they did admit to an official top speed of 140mph. This engine looks to be in need of a lot of work to revive it. Once again, that exclusivity is going to come at a price.
For a hand-built car of such exclusivity, values on the Bristol Beaufighter are remarkably low. While few cars come onto the market, prices seem to sit around the £12,000 to £15,000 region. With the amount of work and associated costs involved in restoring this particular car, I can’t help but think that what we’re looking at here will eventually become a parts car.
Wow, I wished they showed the field that this pulled out of. Perhaps it was next to the “Field of Dreams” , 11 bids already on ebay. What am I missing ? ? ? Turbocharged , carburetor Chrysler engine. That’s going to be a blast to adjust for the correct air / fuel ratio.
A very particular car for very particular people.
Not me. At least, not yet.
A forced induction 360.. the thing must have moved.
Location is Wetherby. Got excited as I live in Westbury.
I like these .. sadly too far gone for me. Interesting though.
I like the “Mother-In-Law” seats attached to the rear wheel. That’ll teach her for calling the owner “Mr.Dime-A-Dozen” for all these years.
This car looks like it was designed around a brick…
like a lot of 80’s cars.Very interesting to see a Mopar
engine with turbo,in this,especially over in the UK.
It must be difficult/impossible to find many parts for these,
but it is kinda cool,very different,and you wouldn’t see the same car
at every car show.Sadly,this will have to be a labor of love.
I hope that some 18yr old kid has a passion for it,and saves it.
I’m astonished at the size of that electric clutch on the front, which must be driving the AC compressor – it’s as big as a lawnmower! Unfortunately, this has to be the epitome of unattactive British design, and I can say that as I own two earlier Bristols – a 408 and 403. By far, Bristol should have stayed true to their early designs, but instead went Spongebob Squarepants after about the 411 model, or somewhere in the ’70s – just plain boring styling, to say the least. As cars, their quality is hard to beat. My 408 marks the beginning of what I think of as a downhill slide toward anonymity, but with 4 wheel power Dunlop discs, a Chrysler 313 tweaked to 250 hp, Recaro-built leather seats, handmade all aluminum body and same doorlatches used on Ferraris plus a top end of 122 mph, it’s not too shabby for 1964!
The name itself is a conundrum – sounds like a dog you’d sic on someone whose girlfriend you tried to steal – when it’s the name of a fighter-bomber they used to build during WWII –
The earlier Bristols are stunning. I see a lot of them at times around where I live. I think the owners club must meet near here or though I do live near Bristol so maybe its a pilgrimage every few months.
Given the quality reputation of Bristol, and its been developed for road use, this powerplant would make an interesting transplant into an early 70’s Mopar just….because.
Adam I’m sorry to agree with you regarding a parts car. But it would be an interesting project if there was an English connection to restore it at some amazing number and then get it back on the street………certainly a unique and interesting driving experience.
Looks like a 65 mustang got together with a jensen interceptor and had a baby! Lol
“May not post to United States” it says…
yes, a waist level side view is the 80s boxy clone (kinda a stang II look-a-like?).
(google da pic for Bristol Beaufighter)
do they still keep the spare wheel behind the passengers front wheel???
There’s even a recent Alfa on BAT or BF that looks as clunky as this Bristol!
The 80s werent a good time for imaginative styling with the box look quite prevalent. This Bristol really follows the unimaginative box theme.
One interesting thing about these Bristols is that the full-size spare tire is located in the vast expanse between the front wheel and the door. But otherwise it looks like a Lada that got stuck in a taffy puller.
Less than Bristol condition-so sad to see a car from a storied marque reduced to such circumstances. Hope some romantic with deep pockets and the patience of Jobe takes her on…
May not be applicable in this case, as the sale occurs in the U.K., but for those looking for windshields for foreign cars in the U.S., here’s a source. Pilkington glass makes windshields for European cars, and has the molds/forms for older cars, too. It took about six months, but I got a new windshield for my 1961 BMW 700 Coupe for roughly $325, and as it was included in a bigger shipment, I was able to pick it at their warehouse in Indianapolis, and shipping was negligible.
Pilkington is high end glass too.
Let’s see. I’ve been in street fights, bar fights, fought for my rights and have fought the law but never have I ever fought a Beau!
I am guessing it is named after the WW2 Aircraft (Beaufighter) but not checked.
Yes, in the ’70s Bristol moved on from numbering their models to naming them after famous Bristol aircraft. It stayed that way until the last Blenheim and Fighter left the shed.
Well I remember stories of being at war with the Nazis and Japanese, where are the Beau’s from? Couldn’t find them on map!
Tragic.
Looks like a USSR made 450SL copy……paaassss…………….
Styling is obviously derivative of the Lancia Beta Spider/Zagato, unsurprising given that Zagato produced both bodies during the same time period. Even the taillights are the exact, same units (a pity they aren’t common to any other models and have long since become rare as hens’ teeth).
However, Pininfarina’s tidy and coherent original design for the Lancia — Zagato performed the spider conversions, as Pf didn’t have production capacity to spare for it — certainly lost something in translation when Zagato reinterpreted it to meet Bristol’s requirements here.
Styling is obviously derivative of the Lancia Beta Spider/Zagato, unsurprising given that Zagato produced both bodies during the same time period. Even the taillights are the exact, same units (a pity they aren’t common to any other models and have long since become rare as hens’ teeth).
However, Pininfarina’s tidy and coherent original design for the Lancia — Zagato performed the spider conversions, as Pf didn’t have production capacity to spare for it — certainly lost something in translation when Zagato reinterpreted it to meet Bristol’s requirements here.
Stretched Mk4 Zephyr
Great read! This is exactly why I have looked at this site every day for a few years now! When a car comes up that I have never seen or heard of for that matter polorazize me! This proves one thing! No matter how old you get there is always something new and interesting to discover! All you have to do is look for it! I am pretty old, but I will probably be on the Internet all day looking for, and learning about these cars! I always did love a under dog! Have a great day guys and gals!
Left hand fender well – brake booster & electrics under right side.
And will almost undoubtedly never move again, under its own free will…..
Not sure if this Beaufighter is still in existence, but if so I would like to get in contact with the current owner please.
If anything is known about its current whereabouts, please leave a comment.