The $300,000 Chrysler 360 engined new car-Bristol?

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

While researching the Sunbeam Tiger, I also ran across the Bristol company. Who? You ask? Well, it seems they are a British company that builds very exclusive cars that no one has ever heard of, and powers them with a Dodge truck engine that is outdated even by Dodge truck standards. The cost? 157k British Pounds, or around $300,000. So, where do you get one of the 150 cars they build each year? Well they have only one showroom which is also the factory. Here is their website that looks like it was put together in an afternoon during a High School web design class.

http://www.bristolcars.co.uk/index2.htm

I'll also say they are not pretty cars. They remind me a bit of the altered wheelbase match racers of the 1960's because of the asymmetrical wheel positioning. They have 3 models with the roadster being much nicer looking (looks like a Cobra) and the "Fighter" is not bad either. The "normal" models however could use better proportions. BTW, the last boutique car like this built in the US was the Avanti. It's an early 60's Studebaker that was made until the late 80's or early 90's.

 

[andrewmp6]

Should see the new Avanti http://www.avantimotors.com/ its a new mustang with a new body on it.Some time in The 60s Studebaker dropped the Avanti. But some guys bought it off them called it the Avanti ii later on dropped the ii they made them a 4 door and even a convertible it used a lot of gm parts too.The bristol is a ok looking car but for that much id want a bmw v12 or something nasty not a dodge 360 .Factory five as a 33 ford 3 window that gives me wood first one i ever seen that will handle great.There is a lot of odd looking kit cars and low production cars.Another one to look at http://www.kreativerodwerks.com/ .The modern day ac cobra would be a small block miata with a beefier irs in it at least the fc rx7 turbo 2 one or some use the irs out of the thunderbird/cougar. Or even a small block rx7 is nasty too.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

I have always wondered why there are not a huge number of 13B powered Miatas running around. I mean, the only thing wrong with the car (besides the fact that the early one looks like a penis) is the lack of real power. A Small Block would ruin the handling, but a turbo rotary (or the newer Renesis) would not. Considering that the 3rd gen Miata and the RX8 share a common chassis, I wonder why Mazda has not made the pairing themselves. It would be at least as good as the Lotus Elise/Exige in terms of driving pleasure only much cheaper.