Advice on a Brigand

[stovo]

In case it might help, happy to share some perspective. My first Bristol was a Britannia from Bristol Cars in the late 90s and I drove it for a bit less than a year before asking the factory to upgrade it to Brigand spec to get a bit more urge. The conversion was pricey but worth it when it worked. (new bonnet, different engine mounts, exhaust, etc). Unfortunately I didn't have the opportunity to use the car regularly, and it would go out of tune - probably for the reasons that Thor elegantly describes with the priority valve. (If only I had known at the time..) It was a wonderful car when Eddie at the factory had breathed on it, but the logistics around keeping it in good fettle while living in a different country and only using it occasionally led to it's sale. With the benefit of perfect hindsight I should have put in the injected 360 and 4-speed instead of going the turbo route. I drove a Blenheim during a factory visit and felt the performance to be equivalent (and a bit more linear) and would recommend looking at them too.

Never loved the non-matching modern turbo boost gauge and iirc swapped the location with the voltmeter so it wasn't glaringly in the middle of the instrument nacelle.

That drainpipe exhaust made a lovely burble though, and who could resist the bonnet bulge and quad headlamps.. Liked that car a lot (as does OPEC). Happy it went to a good home.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/107289...57637155693923

[irienz]

I drove a Brigand in 1995, along with a number of other Bristols, before electing to buy the 411 that I still own. I really enjoyed the car and it was a close decision to choose a 411 instead. I ultimately preferred the appearance of the 411, although I think the Brigand is the best looking Bristol from the 603 onwards. In addition, while the Brigand performance was impressive, typically for a turbo car (and I have owned a few), the power was not very linear. The car gather speed in a subtle and surprising way. My preference was for the more direct and linear power of a 411. That and the appearance tipped the balance. I'm glad I chose to buy a 411 and later to go down the path of subtle performance modifications but the Brigand remains as a strong and delightful memory.

I wouldn't regard a Brigand without a turbo as a proper Brigand and, if I bought one, I'd keep it and do what was necessary to keep it running reliably.

Bristols like regular use and, if you were using it as a daily driver, some of the issues reported may not be an issue. The fuel bills will be heroic but that's been my experience of the 411 as well.