Fighter T

[Markus Berzborn]

What is a Fighter GT?

Regards,
Markus

[lansdownplace]

Originally Posted by Markus Berzborn

What is a Fighter GT?

Regards,
Markus

It is a standard fighter which is lowered with much wider track, flared arches, side skirts, louvered bonnet and front wings and fancy spoilers. Plus an 8.4 engine. It was to have been ready quite soon so we will need to watch what happens.

[Markus Berzborn]

Doesn't sound good.
Who needs flared arches, side skirts and useless spoilers after getting out of puberty.

Regards,
Markus

[Ronald G. Stephenson]

I have to agree with what was said above. I don't consider a Bristol a muscle car or an exotic car by any stretch of the imagination. There are people out there that hot-rod most anything, and it is not uncommon to put twin turbos or superchargers, and even monstrous engines in just about anything. Can we just leave that stuff to that group? I think any new efforts to change the Bristol, including these latest concoctions is the makings of a disaster for the company. If the new owners don't see that, then I don't think there is any hope for the future. Bristols will go the way of dozens of other makes.

[TBC]

Originally Posted by Ronald G. Stephenson

I think any new efforts to change the Bristol, including these latest concoctions is the makings of a disaster for the company. If the new owners don't see that, then I don't think there is any hope for the future. Bristols will go the way of dozens of other makes.

That is exactly what had happened to Bristol until Toby stepped in; BCL were making no cars, one or two cars a year can hardly be classed as 'production', their only income coming from servicing and restoration.

The world has moved on from what BCL traditionally built, name one small scale manufacturer that makes a full 4-seater 2-door saloon/coupe? (Ferrari made over 6,000 cars last year, Maserati made over 5,500 and Bentley made over 4,000 so they're not eligible).

The fact is, if you want to sell cars you have to make a product that people want to buy; which today means it has to look as fast as it goes and produces 700bhp+, anything less and it's a non-starter; just look at what is on offer from the competition and that will tell you what it takes to succeed (Lamborghini Aventador, Pagani Huayra, Koenigsegg Agera, Ferrari 599 replacement, etc).

The alternative may be to make a very fast electric supercar.....

[Markus Berzborn]

These kind of fast and flashy supercars have existed for a long time, there was the Countach in the seventies and so on.
Bristol has never been in this market and hopefully will never be.
If it is not possible to keep up the marque character of Bristol - and Bristols have always had lots of individual character - than it's better to let the marque die. Why should it be saved just for the name's sake? For 25 employees?

Regards,
Markus

Originally Posted by TBC

(Lamborghini Aventador, Pagani Huayra, Koenigsegg Agera, Ferrari 599 replacement, etc).

[GREG]

Yes - for 25 emplyees and for the service and parts.

A lot of people squirmed at the thought of Chrysler V8's and some still do !

Looking forward to the next incarnation of Bristol, whatever shape it takes, and will judge them afterwards.

[TBC]

Originally Posted by Markus Berzborn

If it is not possible to keep up the marque character of Bristol - and Bristols have always had lots of individual character - than it's better to let the marque die. Why should it be saved just for the name's sake? For 25 employees?

I have always wondered as to exactly what the Bristol 'marque character' is?

The majority of owners drive cars made more than 30 years ago, and the people buying the cars in the 50's aren't the same as those buying the Fighter today. I would be surprised if, since 1975, BCL made more than a total of 150 cars, Fighter excluded, so who was buying these cars? Liam Gallagher?

And should BCL still be making cars with an ancient straight 6? I know that some think so; and making cars that went out of fashion the moment that 70's straight edge design did?

Obviously some owners don't believe in evolution.....