1991 Bristol Brigand

Bristol Brigand (Saloon), 1982-1994

The Bristol Brigand was in production from 1982 until 2004. A development of the 603 styled by Dudley Hobbs, it is a front engined, rear wheel drive saloon seating four adults.

The Brigand was a sister car to the Britannia, which itself had been a thorough reimagining of the 603 of 1975. It represented the thinking and desires of then boss Tony Crook, who had persisted in producing old school cars for gentlemen with taste and money when the rest of the world had advanced beyond the concept. While the Britannia was a simple facelift, the Brigand embraced the model age of the 1980s by fitting the already mammoth 5.9 litre Chrysler V8 with a turbocharger. This V8 could be traced back to the Dodge Dart, an overhead valve pushrod unit which was severely understressed in the Bristol. The turbocharger changed that, giving the Brigand shove not seen in this class anywhere but a Bentley Mulsanne Turbo. All Brigands were automatic - a three speed Torqueflite box.

Even by the standards of the early 1980s the Bristol range felt outdated to drive - but to think in those terms is to misunderstand what is a finely crafted conveyance. Look at it as the car for the gentleman who is uncomfortable with the modern order and looks upon his car as an extension of his Savile Row suit. The turbocharger adds to this of course, but rather than feeling like a means of modernisation it feels more like the car adheres to the spirit of the old Blower Bentleys - plenty of power and a simple chassis. If Mr Toad were real, he'd have a Brigand.

Check for white smoke, as with any turbocharged car - this is a sign that the turbocharger's seen better days. Other than that, there's not really much to look for that's specific to the Brigand. Check everywhere for rust, as this is now a near forty year old handmade car. Check the electrics too, as things like window motors can easily burn out. If the air conditioning is present, check it's been converted to R134a gas. You can still get drop in gases for R12 systems but R134a effectively futureproofs it. If the diff's noisy, budget for a rebuild. Don't be too concerned by panel gaps, they were never very good when the car was new and any repairs over the year will only have worsened that by attempting the impossible and trying for uniformity.

The Brigand is rare even by Bristol standards, so if you want one it's folly to turn down any car that comes up for sale. Better to be sure you're paying the right price, and an independent assessment by a Bristol specialist will help to determine what you really should be spending on any particular example. This is one of those cars where specialist input - and ideally a specialist seller - if vital if you want to get a good one.

Only one car was a real rival to the Brigand in period; the Bentley Mulsanne Turbo. However, as a classic many more options are available. Perhaps a later Bristol such as the Blenheim - or alternatively, the Brigand's sister car - the Zagato styled, turbocharged Beaufighter. Jaguar's XJ12 may lack the shove but compensates with smoothness, as does the more overtly sporting XJ-S. Later in production, the Jensen Interceptor S4 would be arguably the closest rival - sharing the Bristol's engine and ethos. A Mercedes SL would be far too showy, and a BMW 635 too nouveau riche. Perhaps a Rolls Royce Corniche might have appealed, but the likelihood is that the average Bristol owner would find the Royce frightfully vulgar.