1992 Bristol Britannia

The Bristol Britannia was in production from 1982 until 1994. A development of the 603 styled by Dudley Hobbs, it is a front engined, rear wheel drive saloon seating four adults.

The Britannia was a sister car to the Brigand, 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 Brigand brought power to the party courtesy of a turbocharger, the Britannia remained naturally aspirated ina bid to avoid pushing away Bristol’s existing clientele. For them, a 5.9 litre V8 was enough – especially given that this understressed unit which had started life in the Dodge Dart had easy parts availability in the States and was cheap to maintain. All Britannias were automatic – a three speed Torqueflite box.

Nobody buys a Bristol for the polished driving experience. It was outdated even when new, unsurprising given that its basic design has roots in the mid 1970s and was in turn based upon an older model. But then, that’s not the point. If there was a Savile Row car, it would be the Bristol. A car for someone who values craftsmanship and is willing to pay for it, rather than pandering to cheap fashion. While not as quick as other Bristols of its era, the 5.9 litre V8 up front ensures it’s no slouch, either.

Rust should be your primary concern with a near forty year old hand built car. Bristol used aluminium for the bodywork but that doesn’t mean that steel underpinnings are immune from rust, and aluminium corrosion is also something of which potential buyers need to be aware. With that in mind, don’t be too fussy about panel gaps – these cars weren’t perfect when they were new, and any subsequent repairs will have made this worse by trying for uniformity in some areas and highlighting the lack of it in original areas. Flaking paint and bubbles are typical giveaways on panels. If the air conditioning system is still present, it’s worth checking if it’s been converted to R134a gas for convenience. Drop in gases for R12 systems do exist but are pricier and harder to source.

Finding a Britannia can be difficult, and if this is the Bristol you’ve set your heart on then the odds are you’ll have to look long and hard to find one that’s right for you. When you do, the wisest move is to find a friendly Bristol specialist who’s happy to advise you as to what to look for – or better still, to come and view the car with you. Call the specialists who’ve worked on the car to learn their assessments too, and don’t be scared of asking any question that comes to mind. With a hand built car like this specialist input is vital – and in an ideal world, you’d buy not from a private seller but from a specialist. It’ll cost more but you can be sure of the car’s quality if a reputable Bristol trader if willing to put his name to it.

Alternatives to the Britannia depend very much upon the reason for its appeal. If it’s enough to own a hand crafted British car with a large and understressed engine, a naturally aspirated Bentley Mulsanne might be a worthy alternative – though perhaps a little on the common side. With that in mind, perhaps an older but rarer Bentley Corniche saloon would be the answer. Those seeking open air thrills could consider the Britannia’s sister car, the Bristol 412, while the Jensen Interceptor S4 of the late 1980s took the same powerplant and fitted it to a body which had been in service for even longer than the Bristol’s. American enthusiasts might consider an Avanti, as a Stateside take upon a similar theme – while the Porsche 928 does almost everything the Bristol does, it’s perhaps a little showy for the traditional Bristol customer. Likewise, a Mercedes-Benz SL would be considered flash, as would the Jaguar XJ-S and BMW 635CSi.