Rare 1987 Bristol Beaufighter Offered for Sale
A 1987 Bristol Beaufighter, the 16th of 18 built, is for sale in Wrexham. The turbocharged British luxury car, finished in Olive Green, has 55,000 miles and recently received £9,000 in mechanical work.
A 1987 Bristol Beaufighter, one of only 18 built, has been listed for sale. This specific car is the 16th example and may be the only one finished in metallic Olive Green.
The car has approximately 55,000 miles and a claimed 300 brake horsepower. It underwent about £9,000 worth of mechanical work in 2024. The seller is offering the vehicle in Wrexham.
The Beaufighter's Origins and Specs
The Beaufighter debuted in 1980 as a turbocharged version of the Zagato-designed Bristol 412. Bristol Cars never released official power figures, but period testing suggested a top speed of 140 to 150 mph and a 0 to 60 mph time of about 6.0 seconds. The company charged close to £40,000 for the model by 1981.
Key specifications from the source are summarized below:
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Model Year | 1987 |
| Production Number | 16 of 18 built |
| Engine | 5.9-liter Chrysler V8 with Rotomaster turbo |
| Claimed Power | 300 bhp |
| Mileage | ~55,000 miles |
| Recent Work | ~£9,000 mechanical work (2024) |
| Exterior Color | Metallic Olive Green (possibly unique) |
| Location | Wrexham |
Bristol's Unique Company History
Bristol Cars emerged from the Bristol Aeroplane Company after World War II. The company initially used BMW-derived engineering, switching to Chrysler V8 power in 1961. Under owner Tony Crook, it remained a deliberately small operation, hand-building cars and selling them through a single London showroom. Crook maintained a policy of never building more than about three cars a week.
The company generally avoided conventional publicity and rarely quoted power figures for its vehicles. The Bristol Owners Heritage Trust notes that the acquisition of BMW plans after the war, often described as war reparations, likely involved a payment to BMW for the blueprints.
The 412 and Its Turbocharged Derivative
The Beaufighter was based on the Bristol 412, a four-seat model styled by Zagato. The Beaufighter added a reworked Rotomaster turbocharger system, which included a priority valve to bypass the compressor under light throttle for better around-town behavior. Exterior changes included a hood bulge and updated rectangular headlamps.
While sometimes incorrectly cited as Britain's first turbocharged production car, the Beaufighter holds the distinction of being the first British luxury production car to be turbocharged. That earlier title belongs to the TVR 3000M Turbo, which was sold from 1976.
A 1981 test by Motor Sport magazine reported a top speed in the region of 140 mph and fuel economy of 16.5 miles per gallon. The cabin was described as exceeding "the air of a gentleman’s club lounge."
The End of an Era
The turbocharged V8 from the Beaufighter was later used in the Bristol Brigand saloon in 1982. Tony Crook sold his shares in the company by 2001, and Bristol Cars entered administration in March 2011. The featured 1987 Beaufighter, with its low production number and distinctive color, represents a rare surviving piece of this idiosyncratic British marque's history.
