Turbocharged Zagato-styled targa — the rare, thinly traded turbo Bristol of the 412 family.
A turbocharged, Zagato-bodied evolution of Bristol's 412, and one of the marque's most distinctive later cars. Introduced in 1980, the Beaufighter took the angular Zagato-styled 412 body and added a lift-out targa roof panel and a turbocharged 5.9-litre Chrysler V8, giving strong, effortless performance delivered in typically understated Bristol fashion.
Hand-built to order in small numbers through to 1993 and trimmed to the marque's usual bespoke standards, the Beaufighter is among the rarer and more characterful of the later Bristols.
An eccentric, hand-built turbo grand tourer with Italian-styled targa coachwork; rarity is its strongest suit.
| Variant | Years | Production | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beaufighter | 1980–1993 | Very few built — estimates range from under 20 to about 29; official figures not published | Turbocharged 5.9-litre Chrysler V8, Zagato-derived targa body; ~150 mph. |
Authenticate stamped chassis and engine numbers against factory or club records. For the Beaufighter specifically, authenticate Zagato-derived targa bodywork, confirm Rotomaster-turbo Chrysler V8 specification and service history and verify targa roof panel operation and seals.
Confirm body originality, panel identity and restoration standard against a Bristol specialist.
Confirm continuous service history and any rebuild history for the engine, transmission and driveline against a marque specialist.
Restoration standard, originality of body and driveline, and any documented ownership record are the main value drivers.
Regional ranges authored independently — each reflects its local market, not an FX conversion
Each region quoted in its local currency — independent market readings, not FX conversions
A very small production and few public sales make values hard to pin precisely; rarity is the primary value driver, tempered by a thin, specialist market.
Authored against aggregate public-market data and named price guides as set out in What to Pay; regional readings are independent, not FX conversions.
| Date | Auction | Car | Mileage | Result |
|---|
No recent public auction results currently meet our verification standard. We publish sale figures only from verified examples, and will update this guide as qualifying results become available.
An eccentric, hand-built turbo grand tourer with Italian-styled targa coachwork; rarity is its strongest suit, tempered by a thin, specialist market.
Our view, not advice. This section is Car Collector International's editorial judgement on where this model sits in the collector market, based on the production, specification and market data set out in this guide. It is not a recommendation to buy or sell and it is not investment advice. Values can fall as well as rise.
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The valuation figures in this guide are for research purposes only and do not constitute financial or investment advice. See our full disclaimer.
