It’s not every day the world gets a new V10-powered sports coupe. And those days are even fewer and further between when said V10 happens to come from a Viper. But there’s a new one in town, and it comes from an automaker with a rich history of building sports cars.
Even among hardcore auto enthusiasts, the British company Bristol Cars is not a brand with much name recognition, despite launching in 1946 with the Bristol 400. The automaker’s heyday was in the 1950s and ’60s, when it specialized in upscale cars, including several performance-oriented models. The brand is now coming back with the Fighter coupe featuring gullwing doors and a Dodge Viper-sourced V10 engine.
A British Dodge Viper With Gullwing Doors
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The latest Bristol Fighter is not a wholly new machine. The company built a handful, reportedly fewer than 20 examples, of these vehicles between 2004 and 2011 before it went out of business. The latest example began with an original, unused chassis from that earlier production run. The automaker intends to build four more from leftover frames.
The big hood opens to reveal an 8.0-liter V10 originally from the Viper. Bristol is offering the car with a standard 525 horsepower output or an upgraded version making 600 hp. Bristol claims the car can reach up to 210 mph and hit 60 miles per hour in around four seconds.
The earlier production run of the Fighter offered buyers a six-speed manual gearbox or a four-speed automatic. The newly rebuilt vehicle on display opts for the more-engaging three-pedal setup.
What Makes The Bristol Fighter So Fascinating?
Bristol FighterBristol Cars
The Fighter is a two-seat coupe with a classic long-hood, short-deck silhouette that defines many sports cars. The gullwing doors add a design flourish. Plus, the rear features a complex shape with a large piece of sculpted glass and a separate smaller window on the tail section. The overall aesthetic is an intriguing application of retro-modern design because we’re looking at a new car in 2026 with styling originally from the 2000s that’s evoking the shape of the brand’s vehicles from the late 1950s.
The body uses a mix of carbon and aluminum composite to keep weight down. While Bristol doesn’t specify the weight of the newly built car, the originals are around 3,527 pounds. Since the latest one is a continuation of the earlier model, it probably has a similar amount of mass.
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A Simple Interior Perfect For Enthusiasts
The interior is simple by modern standards. The driver grips a three-spoke steering wheel with big analog gauges behind it. The center stack includes lots of big, chunky circular switches. This example features extensive diamond-quilted, tan leather upholstery.
Bristol has always been about doing things differently. It was never a mass-market manufacturer. It built exceptional cars in small numbers for people who appreciated their individuality, engineering and character.
– Richard Hackett, Chairman of Bristol Cars
Bristol FighterBristol Cars
In 2006, Bristol announced the Fighter T as a planned version with a twin-turbocharged 8.0-liter V10 allegedly making 1,012 hp and 1,036 lb-ft of torque. However, the car never reached production. In addition, Bristol made an earlier attempt at a comeback in 2016 when it unveiled the Bullet roadster. The vehicle would have used a BMW-built 4.8-liter naturally aspirated V8. Like the Fighter T, it never entered production.
The revived Fighter debuted at Salon Privé this week at Blenheim Palace in England. The company intends to build the cars in the UK with what it calls “a prestigious partner.” Pricing is only available upon application, but the original version from 2004 started at about $250,000.
Bristol is building the remaining four cars in left- or right-hand drive configuration, depending on the buyer’s wishes. They will be available in the United States with eligibility under the Show or Display exemption.
Following the Fighter, Bristol has plans to do more. The company says, “the foundations are being laid for the marque’s future ambitions,” but doesn’t outline any specifics. The company first announced its plans for a comeback in 2024, and at the time, it said the automaker would eventually build an electric vehicle.
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters
Bristol FighterBristol Cars
The revived Fighter is a fascinating project. To restart the company, Bristol is completing five of the leftover chassis from the original production run. The result is a car that feels like it exists out of time. The machine has the hallmarks of an early-2000s premium European sports car, but with a hard-hitting American V10 for power. After completing these Fighters, we look forward to seeing if Bristol can stick around and build something completely new.
The Bristol Fighter is a British sports car featuring gullwing doors, a svelte body, and an 8.0-liter V10 making at least 525 horsepower. It’s a great recipe.
Source: Bristol Cars
