1977 Bristol Brigand Prototype – Auction Car of the Week

We’re not ones to reinforce stereotypes here at Car & Classic but there’s no denying that the name ‘Bristol Brigand’ conjures up images of moustachioed RAF heroes quaffing pints of bitter and generally being all-round bloody good chaps. There’s perhaps good reason for that though, partly due to Bristol’s two-door saloon being named after the Bristol Aeroplane Company’s ground attack dive bomber from 1946. Wot wot!

RAF Squadron Leader A. C. Blythe described the plane in period as: “having nicely balanced controls and a wide range of power” which is a description that could equally be applied to the car, which handled well and could top 150mph thanks to its 172bhp turbocharged V8 engine.

The Bristol Type 603, as it was initially known, was introduced in 1976 as a replacement for the previous 411 sports saloon and marked a definite step forward in design for the British auto maker. Chief designer Dudley Hobbs eschewed the traditional three box layout of previous models in favour of a more streamlined and aerodynamic style, utilising flatter body panels that were easier to shape by hand.

Although offered with smaller displacement engines than the 411 due to the energy crisis at the time (either a 5.2-litre or 5.9-litre Chrysler V8), the 603 did retain the previous car’s suspension and three-speed automatic gearbox. Once the crisis was “over”, however, all 603’s were fitted with the larger 5.9 and would be known as the 603 S2 to differentiate themselves from earlier versions.

Fast forward to 1982 and the S3 is introduced which is when the nomenclature is amended, along with various external features, to take note of the aforementioned aeroplane. The standard 603 was named the Britannia – after another Bristol Aeroplane Company plane – whilst the Brigand received a Rotomaster turbocharger and subsequent power bulge bonnet to accommodate it, along with alloy wheels as standard.

Now, for the maths experts among you you’ll no doubt realise that we’ve just said that the Brigand didn’t appear until ’82, yet the title of this feature quite clearly lists the car we have available via our auctions platform as being a 1977 model. Stay with us though, it’s not a typo. You see, new models don’t just appear out of thin air. There’s testing to be done, prototypes to build and numbers to be crunched, and that’s where this particular car comes in because this is the original Bristol factory prototype for the Brigand. Number 001. If the Brigand was a Marvel character (and let’s be honest, it kind of does sound like it could be a member of the Avengers) then this would be its origin story.

This is the very car with which Bristol carried out all of the engineering and development work before launching the new Brigand to the public. The car was initially owned by Bristol Cars itself before being sold to a regular customer who used it for many years, all the while providing valuable feedback to Bristol’s charismatic owner Tony Crook and its Head of Service Brian Marelli, not only praising the car in the areas where it excelled, but also providing vital constructive criticism that would help Bristol to refine the production model.

Benefiting from an older restoration and meticulously maintained both before and since this Brigand presents beautifully inside and out and is mechanically as sound as a pound. A genuine rarity and a true one-off it’s an important part of Bristol’s storied history and it remains a rather rapid and enigmatically engaging handbuilt GT car like no other. So if you fancy an exclusive slice of British automotive lore then crack on and get bidding. Tallly-ho old bean!