Bristol Cars is one of the few car brands that hand-built luxury cars in the world. Five years ago, the company almost went down to insolvency but was brought back to life by the Frazer-Nash group. Now they are back with the first model in around a decade.
Ladies and gentlemen, meet the Bristol Bullet.
The Bristol Bullet has the name that will make you think of something really fast. But is it as fast as a speeding bullet? Well, under the bonnet is a 4.8-litre V8 petrol engine producing 370bhp and 370 lb-ft of torque. The engine is paired with your choice of six-speed manual or automatic gearbox. Both the engine and transmission is sourced from BMW. The Bullet can do the 0 to 62mph in 3.8 seconds and has a limited top speed of 155mph. Well, it’s not as fast as a real bullet but for a car, it is pretty quick.
The Bristol Bullet gets its quickness not from a massive engine but from a very light body. Most of the body is made of carbon fibre instead of aluminium which is the material of choice for previous Bristol cars. The car tips the scales at a very light 1,100kgs.
While the engine and body are constructed from new age technologies the styling is still undoubtedly that of a classic speedster.
The inspiration came from a prototype Bristol speedster that the new owners found stowed away somewhere in the factory underneath a tarpaulin sheet. The Bullet is an open top speedster that exudes elegance while having enough muscle to match. The interior can be fitted with either wood or carbon fibre and incorporates a touchscreen display with all the modern connectivity options. It is truly a classic but with all the comforts of a modern day roadster.
So how much is a Bristol Bullet? The first thing you should know is that there will be only 70 of these cars made. With such a limited number of units available and with a loyal following the Bristol will command quite a high price. The asking price for this classic speedster is around £250,000.
Photos via Top Gear.
Leave a reply