Bristol 406
| Bristol 406 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Bristol Cars (then Bristol Aeroplane Co.) |
| Production | 1958–1961 174 units |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | 2-door Sport saloon |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 2,216 cc ohv straight-6 |
| Transmission | 4-speed overdrive manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,896 mm (114.0 in) |
| Length | 4,978 mm (196.0 in) |
| Width | 1,727 mm (68.0 in) |
| Curb weight | 1,365 kg (3,009 lb) 1,092 kg (2,408 lb) (Zagato) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Bristol 404 and 405 |
| Successor | Bristol 407 |
The Bristol 406 was a luxury car produced between 1958 and 1961 by British manufacturer Bristol Aeroplane Co. Their cars were constructed to very high engineering standards and were intended to be long-lasting to justify their very high price. Buyers might arrange considerable changes to the specification of their own particular vehicle. Bristol Aeroplane's car division later became Bristol Cars.
It was the last Bristol to use the BMW-derived pushrod straight six engine that had powered all cars built by the company up to that point. In a stopgap measure for the 406 its torque was improved by a 250 cc increase in capacity because it was clearly unable to give a performance comparable to that of newer engines emerging at the time.
A prototype with a body by of Thun in Switzerland was exhibited in 1957 in both Paris and London Motor Shows. The start of production at Filton was announced in late August 1958.
Compared to the 405, the 406 saw several significant changes. The most important was that the six-cylinder engine itself was enlarged slightly in both bore and stroke to dimensions of 69 mm by 100 mm (2.71 inches by 3.94 inches). This gave an engine displacement of 2,216 cc (135 cubic inches) but the actual power of the engine was no greater than that of the 405. However, the torque was higher than the smaller engine, especially at low engine speeds.
Manufacture of the 2-litre version continued for supply to AC Cars for their AC Ace and Aceca.
The 406 also featured Dunlop-built disc brakes on all four wheels (making it one of the first cars with four-wheel disc brakes) and a two-door saloon body Bristol were to stick with for a long period after adopting Chrysler V8 engines with the 407. The styling made the 406 more of a luxury car than a true sports saloon. It was, nevertheless, "a delight to drive".
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