1981 Bristol Beaufighter (412 Series 3)

Highlights

One of only 29 units produced
Class winner at the Bristol Owners' Club Concours d'Elegance in 2004 and 2016
Comprehensive restoration in 2004, with additional work carried out by subsequent owners.
£15,000 worth of structural repairs carried out to rear and centre sections of car in 2016-17 to restore to factory standard
Recent work to refurbish carburettor and fit newer improved starter motor

The Appeal

The Bristol 412 is a distinctly eccentric convertible. With its angular bodywork, designed and built by Zagato before being fitted to a Filton-built Bristol chassis, these cars are very nearly as rare and unusual as they come, largely thanks to Bristol's ever-enduring run of bafflingly low production numbers. There are a lot of numbers published online, but what is known for certain is that no more than 29 of these remarkable, V8-powered cars were ever built.

This particular model, a 1981 Beaufighter, showcases the craftsmanship and quality of Bristol cars. By now, the cars were being fully constructed at Bristol's workshop. They had managed to gain a Rotomaster Turbocharger - which meant these somewhat unlikely-looking vehicles could haul speeds of 150mph. In this guise, the cars continued production up until 1993.

This Beaufighter has been carefully restored and maintained, with a comprehensive restoration having being undertaken in 2004. It has won its class at the Bristol Owners' Club Concours d'Elegance twice, in 2004 and 2016, and underwent £15,000 worth of structural repairs to the rear and centre sections in 2016-17, restoring it to factory standard.

If you're after a rare addition to your collection, you'll have trouble finding rarer than this - a magnificent spot of sheer eccentricity that seems to defy convention with every inch.

The History and Paperwork

Registered in 1981
No history before restoration in 2004, which included being repainted in its current Jaguar Windsor Blue
Purchased by current owner in July 2015
9 former registered keepers
Large file of invoices from 2004 to present
Class winner at the Bristol Owners' Club Concours d'Elegance in September 2004
Additional restoration work carried out by next two owners up to 2015
Class winner again in August 2016 at the last BOC Concours that was attended
Last MOT was in 2021, now MOT exempt
Indicates 26,381 miles on a five-figure odometer

The Condition

Described as a "convertible-saloon" with a rigid roof incorporating a tiltable/removable glass sunroof over the front seats
Rear section can be removed and replaced with a canvas rear hood
£15,000 worth of structural repairs carried out to the rear and centre sections in 2016-17
High standard of repaint with a deep scratch to the nearside front wing and a few other minor chips and scratches
Glasswork and brightwork looks in fine fettle
Original Bristol alloys, with plenty of tread in the tyres
Comes with both the hard top and the soft top
Leatherwork appears in smart condition for its age, except for a small tear to the handbrake surround
Carpets replaced by the previous owner
Dashboard restored in 2013
All instruments are clean and legible
Fully refurbished Air conditioning system in 2013

The Mechanics

Features a 5.9 litre Chrysler V8 and a Rotomaster turbocharger
Automatic transmission with 3 gears
Recorded 0-60mph in 6.7 seconds and 0-100mph in 17.6 seconds in 1980 road test
Replacement of non-standard manual choke fitted in earlier restoration to original automatic choke mechanism
Gearbox and torque converter rebuilt in 2018
Radiator re-cored and new cooler fans fitted in 2019
Power steering pump rebuilt in 2021
Recent work (2023/2024) includes a carb refurbishment and fitting of a newer, improved starter motor
Everything appears in fine mechanical order
We're informed that the car drives smoothly with barely noticeable gear changes

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