BRISTOL 412 Convertible 1975-1978 Photos, engines & full specs

After they stopped producing airplanes, the Bristol company started to build cars. Three decades after WWII was over, the British company introduced the 412 Targa.

It was a strange marriage, with the bodies being built in Italy, then shipped to the U.K. in Filton to meet their chassis. But, somehow, that recipe worked for a few years. To spice things up, the engine came from the U.S. In the end, it was difficult to say if that was a British car.

The wedge-shaped vehicle, with flat surfaces and angular lines, was imagined in Italy. A long and flat hood, a flat front fascia, and flat front fenders made the car look angular. The cabin was short and it featured a targa-top. While the roof was removable and could have been stored in the trunk, the B-pillars remained on the car along with the security arches. There was a folding rear canvas-back, to cover the rear seats. So, if the top was kept in place and the rear was folded down, the car was converted into a landaulet. The result was an eccentric-looking vehicle.

The interior had other interesting features. With a wooden dash panel and a leather-covered instrument cluster, the car offered an exclusive look for its owner. In the middle of the dash, there was the air-conditioning unit. On the floor, on the transmission tunnel, the car-manufacturer installed the gear-selector for the 3-speed automatic gearbox. To justify the high price-tag, the car featured leather upholstery as standard.

Under the hood, the 1975 Bristol 412 featured a V8 Chrysler engine. Its price was just below a Rolls-Royce Corniche.