Bristol Brigand

This article covers the Bristol Brigand car model for the aircraft of the same name, see Bristol Brigand (aircraft) .

Bristol
Bristol Brigand
Brigand
Production period:	1982-1993
Class :	Upper class
Body versions :	Coupe
Engines:	Otto engine : 5.9 liters (294 kW)
Length:	4910 mm
Width:	1770 mm
Height:	1440 mm
Wheelbase :	2900 mm
Empty weight :	1746 kg
Previous model	Bristol 603
successor	Bristol Blenheim

The Bristol Brigand was a sports car produced by the British car manufacturer Bristol Cars Ltd. , which was based on the Bristol Britannia and differed from its sister model primarily through its more powerful engine. It was an answer to the Bentley Mulsanne .

Model history

The Brigand was launched at the same time as the Bristol Britannia in October 1982.

Outwardly, the brigand largely corresponded to the Britannia. The only visual distinguishing features were a bump on the bonnet, which had technical causes, and standard alloy wheels from Wolfrace . However, both details were also supplied for conventional Britannias in later years at the customer's request.

In terms of propulsion technology, the Brigand stood out from the Britannia. During the Britannia over a largely standard 5.9-liter eight-cylinder engine from Chrysler decreed already in the predecessor model Bristol 603 was used, the Brigand received a very edited version of this engine equipped with a turbocharger equipped by Rotomaster. It was the engine that had already been used in the Cabriolet Bristol Beaufighter for two years .

The Brigand surpassed the identically motorized Beaufighter, as the in-house designed body of the saloon was aerodynamically significantly more favorable than the angular, fancy, Zagato-designed Beaufighter body.

A test carried out by the British magazine Motor Sport in January 1984 showed the following driving performance:

• Acceleration 0–96 km / h: 6.0 seconds,
• Top speed: 255 km / h.

The purchase price of the Bristol Brigand in 1984 was £ 49,000; that made it 3000 pounds more expensive than a Britannia. Like its sister model, it remained on sale until the summer of 1993, but it has become increasingly difficult to find buyers in recent years. The main problem was the exhaust gas behavior of the turbo engine, which was coupled with a quadruple carburetor until the end of production. This construction could not be combined with a catalyst .

Bristol Brigands are already very sought-after youngtimers in Great Britain today, fetching significantly higher prices than a Britannia.

Technical specifications

Bristol Brigand
Motor type	Gasoline engine
Engine type	Eight cylinder V engine
Displacement	5898 cc
Bore × stroke	101.6 mm x 90.93 mm
Max. power	Not specified
compression	8.4: 1
Mixture preparation	1 × quadruple carburetor
Carburetor manufacturer	Carter
Valve control	underlying camshaft; hanging valves
cooling	Water cooling
Cooling content	16.5 liters
transmission	Automatic three-speed transmission
Front suspension	Wishbones, coil springs
Rear suspension	Rigid axle, torsion bar springs
Brake design in front	Disc brakes
Rear brake design	Disc brakes
chassis	Tubular frame
body	Steel structure, aluminum sheets
wheelbase	2898 mm
Dimensions (length × width × height)	4910 mm × 1770 mm × 1430 mm
Empty weight	1746 kg
Top speed	Not specified

gallery

• 

  Front end of the Bristol Brigand

• 

  The rear: taillights from the Bedford Van

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Unless otherwise indicated, the technical data was taken from the 1984 sales prospectus.

literature

• Exclusive and exhilerating: The new Bristol Brigand flies in , introduction of the Brigand in Autocar October 16, 1982 (engl.)
• Exclusivity in extremis : Test in Motor Sport , January 1984

Web links

• Sales brochure from 1984 with all models and technical data