Bristol 412

Bristol 412 S1

The Bristol 412 was an exclusive four -seater convertible of the British car manufacturer Bristol Cars. The stylistically idiosyncratic car was " the result of a clash of autmobilen eccentrics " Bristol and Zagato. It was built from 1974 in several versions, and very small numbers. The 412 added in this period, the respective Gran Tourismos the brand, ie the models Bristol 411 Mk V and the Bristol 603

The concept

In the summer of 1974 revived Anthony Crook, owner of Bristol Cars, the relationship with the Zagato design studio in Milan again. Zagato had some remarkable special versions of Bristol- models 406 and 407 manufactured in the early 1960s, which were legendary and had strengthened the sporting image of the brand. After a ten year hiatus, the business relationship Crook was the design for a completely new model in order that should meet the international trend enable open-top driving. Zagato designed a very shaped body, the Lancia Beta Spider corresponded to the basic concept and in numerous details, which was designed by Pininfarina and Zagato has been manufactured since 1974. As the Beta Spider, the new Bristol had a massive roll-over bars to address safety concerns. This Bristol took to the trend of the so-called security Cabriolet, which was first realized in 1970 when Triumph Stag and found himself in the 1970s next to the Lancia Beta Spider also in such diverse cars like the Reliant Scimitar GTC or the Opel Kadett Aero. In the first series the windows of the doors had frameless.

A special feature of the Bristol 412 was a small side window, which was admitted to the roll bar and could be opened at any rate in the early models. Almost all specimens had such a window; at least one vehicle, however, instead of the roll bar was completely covered with vinyl. Between the windshield frame and roll bar was a Targa roof made ​​of plastic, which was removed via the rear seats down, however, a folding fabric roof, which corresponded to the previous Landau - style. Many details had Italian origins, such as the rear lights that came from the Lancia Beta Spider, or the door handles, which had already been used in the Alfa Romeo Zagato Junior. The rectangular headlights with integrated turn signals came from the Opel Rekord D. In technical terms, the car corresponded to the little things the Bristol 411 The body shells were mostly at Zagato, at least temporarily but also in the Carrozzeria Maggiora in Moncalieri near Turin made ​​.

A special feature of the first series were frameless door window. The absence of a window frame made ​​it difficult to seal between the side windows and the hardtop. To improve the sealing Bristol developed a system which electrically absenkte the side window opening of the door and raised again after the closing of the door. Bristol failed to patent this design. Later Mercedes Benz used a very similar solution for its own Cabriolet models. A further development of the Bristol engineers that was copied soon were rails on the vehicle floor, to which the lower ends of the seat belts were fastened; so the straps could slide back and forth as needed to allow barrier-free access to the rear seats.

Bristol 412 S1

The new car was called the Bristol 412 Convertible and was introduced to the public in spring 1975. The 412 was 2,000 pounds more expensive than the 411 closed, but was 7,000 pounds below the price of the open Rolls- Royce Corniche. As of March 1976, the otherwise unchanged Bristol car was 412 Convertible Saloon. Served as a drive, as well as the still offered model 411 Mk 5, a Chrysler eight-cylinder with 6.6 liters displacement.

Initial tests showed that the edgy, aerodynamically unfavorable car reached a top speed of 225 km / hr. The testers praised the smooth, playful handling, enjoyable driving performance and excellent workmanship. A photographer of the magazine Motorsport, who was usually include in the trunk of the test car to change his films, reported that he had experienced in any other boot such a lasting darkness as in the Bristol 412

In the June 1977, the British magazine Car and Driver to Bristol 412 compared under the title "The Hyper Tourer " with a Ferrari 400 Automatic and an Aston Martin Lagonda. The journalist L.J.K. Setright came to the conclusion that the Bristol is 412 preferable to its competitors, and described the 412 as

Bristol 412 S2

In the fall of 1977, the Bristol 412 Convertible Saloon S2 ( Series 2) appeared. The car had outwardly almost not changed. However, the windows of the doors now feature a frame, so that the time-consuming process, problem solved the sealing of windows and hardtop was omitted. The S2 was - as a year earlier presented Bristol 603 - powered by a 5.9 - liter eight-cylinder, which was still available from Chrysler. Unlike the 603, the smaller 5.2 - liter version was not available at 412. In contrast, the car could be prepared on request at the factory for use with natural gas.

Bristol Beaufighter 412 S3

→ Main article: Bristol Beaufighter

In January 1980, Bristol presented a sensational new feature: now the Bristol was 412 at the factory to get turbocharged. The car seemed a good two years before the Bentley Mulsanne, which had a similar technique, and was thus the first " standard " equipped with turbo engine model from a British production. The turbocharger increased the engine power by 30 percent, and the performance increased significantly: The Beaufighter put the sprint from 0 to 96 km / h in 6.7 seconds back and reached a top speed of over 240 km / h In the first tests a consumption of about 30 liters per 100 km was noticed; But Bristol succeeded in the following months by fine- tuning to reduce this value to about 25 liters per 100 km. The Beaufighter remained until 1993 in the program. A special model was the Beaufort, a four-seat full convertible, which remained unique.

Bristol 412 U.S.

Bristol produced in late 1980 on the initiative of an American businessman, two left-hand drive vehicles with the body of the Beaufighter, but without turbocharging. The drive system corresponded to that of the Bristol 412 S2; However, an emission control was provided by a catalyst. The vehicles designated as Bristol " 412 USA" were destined for the American market. The vehicles were shown to the public at the New York Motor Show 1980. They found in the following time American buyers. A regular sales of such vehicles in the United States but could not be realized. The project ultimately failed because the 412 United States did not meet the admission requirements of all American states. About a dozen similar konzeptionierter cars could settle in the course of the 1980s on the market in Bristol, another vehicle was exported to Canada.

Volume of production

The number of copies that were made ​​from 1975 to 1982 is unexplained. The work for this purpose did not specify. The literature predominantly assumes a total production of 60 vehicles; this would correspond to an annual rate of less than 10 cars.

Competitors

Gallery

The interior of the 412 is based on the classic Bristol- style

View of the roof structure of the 412 S2 with fixed door frame

Bristol 412 S1. The brand-typical toaster grill can be clearly seen.

Car classification Sports car Curb weight Bristol Type 603 Bristol 406 Bristol 407 Opel Rekord Series D Maggiora (manufacturer) Rolls-Royce Corniche Mercedes-Benz R107 and C107 Bristol 400 Bristol 401 Bristol 403 Bristol 404 and 405 Bristol 408 Bristol 409 Bristol 410 Bristol 450 Bristol Type 603#603S3 .28Britannia and Brigand.29 Bristol Fighter (automobile) Luxury vehicle Roadster (automobile)
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