Bristol Cars, one of Britain’s most exclusive and enigmatic automotive marques, has returned to the spotlight, marking the beginning of a new era in the company’s history. Its revival begins not with a blank sheet, but by completing one of the most significant unfinished stories in the marque’s past: the Bristol Fighter.
Bristol Cars was founded in 1945 as a spin-off from the Bristol Aeroplane Company and completed its first car, the Bristol 400, in 1946. The marque became known for combining aviation-inspired engineering with British luxury, performance and individuality, producing distinctive cars and its own highly regarded engines in small numbers. Its engineering credentials were proven in competition by the Bristol 450, which secured a remarkable first, second and third in the two-litre class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in both 1954 and 1955.
Rare, unconventional and unmistakably Bristol, the immaculately preserved and meticulously completed Salon Privé show car has been brought back to life using an original chassis and drawings. The first manifestation of Bristol Cars’ journey takes a look to the past, to complete the final Bristol Fighter programme. The first new-era Fighter was shown in a bold black over tan configuration, while four chassis’ remain and are waiting in the wings to be built by owners in their desired specification.
Originally conceived in the early 2000s, the Fighter was Bristol’s final production model before manufacturing ceased in 2011. An uncompromising two-seat supercar, its aerodynamic bodywork houses an 8.0-litre V10 producing a blistering standard 525 bhp or uprated 600 bhp, with a claimed top speed of up to 210 mph. Long, low and defined by dramatic gull-wing doors, its design was shaped as much by Bristol’s aviation roots as by its performance ambitions, with every element engineered with obsessive attention to detail and for purpose rather than show.
The newly completed Fighter is the ultimate hand-built British supercar that defied convention while remaining true to the marque’s character. It combines supercar performance with the refinement, individuality and long-distance capability of a grand tourer, resulting in a car that is as distinctive in concept as it is in execution.
Confirming these last five Fighter chassis’ and build slots exist, with one already completed, represents more than the revival of an individual model. It completes a programme left unfinished when manufacturing ended, reconnects Bristol Cars with a tangible part of its history and establishes the first chapter in the marque’s return.
The four remaining Fighters will be offered for purchase in the coming months, each artisan-built around an original, unused chassis. Unmistakably English and true to Bristol’s tradition of luxury, individuality and exclusivity, they will rank among the rarest modern British performance cars available. Pricing will be available on application. They can be configured in either right- or left-hand drive and exported to major markets, including the USA, where their eligibility under the Show or Display exemption reflects their rarity, collectability and historical significance.
Bristol’s previous manufacturing came to an end in 2011, when the company first entered administration. Kamkorp Autokraft Ltd acquired the entire intellectual property and goodwill in 2011 and subsequently licenced it to Bristol Cars. The firm unveiled the Bristol Bullet in 2016, although the project did not progress to series production. Kamkorp Autokraft Ltd carried on until 2022 and it is against this backdrop that the marque’s return begins: not by overlooking the gaps in its history, but by returning to an authentic and unfinished chapter and completing what was left behind. Bringing these Fighters to completion reconnects the marque with its past, providing a natural bridge between what Bristol was and what it intends to become.
The year 2026 marks the 80th anniversary of Bristol’s first car. Founded in 1945 as a spin-off from the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Bristol completed the Bristol 400 in 1946. From the outset, the company followed its own path, drawing on its aviation heritage to create cars that combined advanced engineering with British luxury, performance and individuality. Over the decades, Bristol became known for producing highly desirable cars in small numbers.
Richard Hackett, Chairman of Bristol Cars, said: “Bristol has always been about doing things differently. It was never a mass-market manufacturer. It built exceptional cars in small numbers for people who appreciated their individuality, engineering and character. To return as Chairman, particularly in Bristol’s 80th anniversary year, is a tremendous privilege. This is an opportunity to respect everything that made Bristol special while giving the marque a future.”
