Highlights

Number 16 of just 18 Beaufighters produced
Turbocharged 300bhp 5.9L Chrysler V8
Believed to be the only one finished in metallic olive green
Recent £9,000 2024 mechanical overhaul by Cropredy Bridge
Work covered servicing, gearbox overhaul, electrics and brakes
Well presented example of these ultra rare British-built Zagato GTs
Newly soundproofed with Dynamat and fitted with new carpets
MOT valid until August 2027

The Appeal

Ex-WWII Fighter ace and successful racing driver Tony Crooks was not a man who brooked discussion. If he didn’t like you, you didn’t get to buy a car. So it was with designing them; hence the 70s and 80s models produced during his tenure exhibited a dedicated individuality no other manufacturer could match. Case in point, the Beaufighter, a straight-edged GT penned in 1974 by Giuseppe Millino for Zagato, built in Bristol and one of the first production turbocharged cars.

The result of all that quirk was just 18 sales over 13 years, excluding those retrofitted with the turbo specification. Today these cars represent the high water mark of a certain single-minded dedication to British car making, and are justly revered by enthusiasts. Which is why we warmly welcome this 1987 car.

Said to be car 16 of the 18 built, it appears to have been manufactured in 1982 or 1983, but, like many of these slow-selling cars, was not first registered until 1987. The vendor believes it is the only one finished in metallic Olive Green, paired with black leather. We’re told the previous keeper used it 2-3 times a year for trips to his villa in Portugal, and the four-seat layout apparently suited his dog.

Shortly before the vendor acquired the car in May 2024, it received £9,000 of renovation work by Chrysler V8 specialist Cropredy Bridge. The work covered servicing, gearbox overhaul, electrics, brakes, and carburettors. The invoices are included in the photos. The car has also been soundproofed with Dynamat and fitted with new carpets. The car comes with a useful MOT valid to late August 2027. A single advisory notes the underside is undersealed.

It may not be svelte and beautiful like a V8 Aston, but it is certainly much rare and distinctive and, with that innovative Rotomaster turbo, technologically advanced too. A rare opportunity to acquire a car with significant recent investment.

The vendor says:

“It's a great car to drive. Very rare, being number 16 of 18. As far as I know, it is the only one painted metallic olive green. With the hood down and the targa top off, it's great to experience the fresh air, especially in this heat we have experienced recently.”

Key Information

Mileage: 55,000 miles indicated
Country of registration: United Kingdom
Technical inspection status: MOT valid until 24th August 2027 with advisory
Technical specs: 300bhp turbocharged 5.9L Chrysler V8 petrol, 3spd Torqueflite automatic
Paperwork: V5C, Cropredy Garage invoices, earlier history sadly mislaid

Recent maintenance by Cropredy Bridge Garage:

03/24 - £3,680 - 54,000 miles - gearbox work
01/24 - £5,476 - 55,200 miles - service, carburettor work, electrics, brake calipers and hoses etc

The Detail

Extensive work by specialist Cropredy in 2024 as above
Work including automatic gearbox refurbished with replacement bands
New carpets fitted with leather edging
Entire car soundproofed with Dynamat, replacing the original fibre matting
Rare Olive Green metallic paintwork in good overall condition
Some light variation in paint colour to note in panelwork
Aluminium body and paintwork said to be in good overall condition
Some edge chips to panels picked up in photos
Vendor reports a few minor blisters consistent with age
Black vinyl roof with Targa top incorporating glass sunroof in good condition
All glass in good condition we are told
Steel wheels with chrome hub caps only lightly aged
Avon tyres with some sidewall cracking to note in photos
Underside as shown with undersealing as noted on MOT
Four seat layout with comfortable rear seats with headrests
Black leather seats reported to be in good condition with no tears or rips
Black leather shows some light wear and creasing typical of age
Interior trim shows light age such as rear side panels
Headlining in good condition we are told
Wood veneers present well in photos with some light aging to note
Switchgear shows some light wear typical of a 39 year old car
All instruments and dials are working we are told
No mechanical or running gear advisories on MOT

BEFORE YOU BUY

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