1975 · The V8 era
Bristol 412 and Beaufighter
Open air, and then a turbocharger.
Zagato-designed with targa and convertible roofs, the 412 brought open motoring back to Bristol; turbocharged, it became the Beaufighter, among the earliest British production cars so equipped.
The 412 of 1975 was conceived with Zagato of Milan: a convertible with a double roll-over hoop, a removable roof panel and a small folding rear hood, so that an open Bristol lost none of the marque’s strength. Zagato built the first two cars; the rest were built at Filton. It was also the first Bristol offered with a factory-developed LPG conversion.
In 1980 the turbocharged 412 became the Beaufighter, the first Bristol named after one of the company’s aircraft and among the earliest British production cars with a turbocharger. Bristol’s aero engines had used exhaust-driven boost since the 1930s; on the road it gave the big V8 a further reach of performance without raising its voice.
Bristol Cars Approved
