Beaufighter exterior door and engine musings

[TonyK]

Hi I’m very new to this forum having just acquired a 1981 Beaufighter that hasn’t had the easiest of times. The previous owner has sorted out the chassis and brakes and, then painted it gold for a TV series. All this leavers me with a lot to do.
Can anyone please confirm if the exterior door handles are the same aa Fiat X19 Lancia Stratos ? Look very similar.
Also does anyone have any experience or advice for fitting a Chevy LS engine especially around the engine mounts? I understand the factory performed a number of upgrades using this unit.
Tony

[geo]

Tony,

Sorry, I am not sure about the Beaufighter, but when I had a 412 S2, I sourced quite a few similar items from Lancia parts suppliers — I recall Bristol were low on replacement headlamps, which are different of course from your car, because so many 1970s Lancia people discovered that Bristol had a stock of them for RHD cars!

George

[peter dowdle]

Tony

I have a 412 series1 and I learnt years ago that the door handles are common to an Alfa of the late 60s or early 70s. It was a limited production Zagato built unit. Unfortunately I cant remember the model . It would be earlier than the 105 series. Guess they would fit other Italian Cars.

I also have a Lancia Beta Zagato which has the same tail lights as my 412. These Tail lights are very rare but I do know of a guy in australia that has a very limited supple of original new lenses.

I cleaned out Bristol Spares of all their headlights years ago some right hand drive and some left hand .

I am after a boot lid lock if you know of anyone who has a spare.

The 412s and the Lancia Beta Zagato were I believe made on the same production line but other than the tail lights I have found nothing else that is interchangeable. Regards Peter Dowdle

[Thor]

I think the engine which was sometimes retro-fitted by the factory was not a Chevrolet LS but the Dodge 360 Magnum (or 5.9 litre Magnum) engine, which might well be quite similar in terms of engine mounts to the original engine.

This engine was readily available from Mopar, but I don't think it is anymore. I'm sure reasonably sensible aftermarket versions of the engine will be available from specialists in USA.

[TonyK]

Hi
Thanks for the info, this give me a starting point
Tony.

[TonyK]

Having done a bit more research. I’m going with a refurbished La360 from USA, also keeps everything more original
Tony

[Philip]

412 door handles are shared with the Alfa Junior Zagato and Lancia Fulvia Sport Zagato.

[peter dowdle]

Philip You are right on both cases

The Alfa was the car I was thinking of in my earlier post .

The lancia surprised me as a friend in Melbourne has one but the door handles are nothing like the 412 ones. A little research and I discovered that you were right as they were on the lancia but only the later 1600 cc cars.

My guess is that as both these cars being limited production models would mean a limited supply of replacement handles

Did anyone manage to get a look at the Fiat ones they do look similar

Peter Dowdle

[Sam410]

Originally Posted by TonyK

then painted it gold for a TV series.

I'm intrigued - do you know which show?

[TonyK]

Hi
It's in series 2 of Jilly cooper's rivals out later this year on Disney channel, more than that I'm not allowed say.

[Sam410]

Excellent, the first series was great. I also met and photographed Jilly at her home once, and she was indescribably lovely - super company and a wonderful host even of a lowly newspaper photographer.