Bristol 412
| Bristol 412 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Bristol Cars |
| Production | 1975–1993 no production figures published |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Convertible |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Related | Bristol 603 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | OHV V8 |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Bristol 411 |
| Successor | sibling Bristol 603 production continues |
The Bristol 412 is a car which was built by British manufacturer Bristol Cars.
Along with the Bristol 603, it was one of two concurrent successors to the long-serving 411 that had carried Bristol Cars through from the late 1960s to the late 1970s. The 412 was the last in the continuously numbered series of Bristols beginning with Bristol 400.
Whereas the 603 was a dramatically restyled version of the characteristic Bristol two-door saloon, the 412 was different in that it was a Targa-type convertible with a removable roof that could be placed in the large luggage compartment. The earliest versions of the 412 were also very unusual for a post-World War II car in that the body was made by Zagato in Italy and attached to a chassis built by Bristol Cars in Filton, England. This chassis was almost exactly the same as that of the Bristol 603, but the earliest 412s retained the Chrysler B series petrol engines 6,277 cc (383 cubic inches) that had been used in the 411. However, the second series of 412, which arrived towards the end of 1977, changed to the same 5,899 cc (361 cubic inch) petrol engine as that used in the Bristol 603 and later in its successor, the Bristol Britannia.
The 1977 second series cars incorporated front suspension modifications to allow for the lighter engine along with a final drive ratio changed to 2.88:1. Other changes included improved ventilation, redesigned seats and service intervals extended to 10,000 miles (16,000 km).
In an effort to move into the United States market, Bristol designed a 412USA that complied with the extremely strict emissions and safety regulations of the US, with a catalytic converter and a much stronger roll bar than on the first 412. However, the company's specialist status made exporting very difficult and most of these modified 412 models were exported to Europe and markets such as West Germany and Switzerland.
The Bristol Beaufighter, named after the WW2 aircraft produced by Bristol, was still designed by Zagato but now fully factory-bodied at Filton, had very similar styling to the original 412 except for the four-headlamp layout.
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