Bristol Cars is making another comeback, with an ambitious plan to revive the gullwinged Fighter supercar.
Originally founded in 1945 as an offshoot of the Bristol Aeroplane Company, the first cars from the British marque were all based on pre-war BMW models.
Spun off into an independent company in 1960, Bristol went on to develop its own luxurious and sporting cars, usually with enigmatic styling and big-block Chrysler V8 power.
In the early 2000s, Bristol looked to replace its dated Blenheim coupes with a new Fighter sports car, which was powered by the epic 8.0-litre V10 from the Dodge Viper.
Sadly, fewer than 20 examples of the Fighter were made before the company collapsed into administration in 2011.
In 2021, a plan to bring Bristol back pitched the idea of building historic models alongside new EVs, but things have been quiet ever since.
The Bristol Fighter is back
Under the stewardship of Bristol’s new owner and director, Paul King, the company now plans to construct four new examples of the V10 Fighter.
Original, unused Fighter chassis will be the starting point for the supercars, continuing a production process that first started in 2004.
This means the same Max Boxstrom-designed body, with those dramatic doors, plus an aerodynamic shape that helped the Fighter reach a claimed top speed of 210mph.
As before, power comes from a Dodge Viper V10 engine, giving the continuation cars 525hp as standard, and the potential for up to 600hp. Bristol has already created one ‘new’ Fighter in partnership with a UK production company.
New Fighter set for Salon Privé debut
This first completed continuation Bristol Fighter will make its public debut at Salon Privé, held in the grounds of Blenheim Palace from 2-6 September 2026.
Each of the final four Fighters will be tailored to the requirements of their buyers, and are available in either right- or left-hand drive. Bristol says the sports car can be brought into the United States via a ‘Show or Display’ exemption.
No price for the reborn Fighter has been announced, but Bristol will confirm costs to interested parties who apply to buy one of the four cars.
The 2026 Fighter is said to continue Bristol’s long tradition of ‘luxury, individuality and exclusivity’.
‘Honouring Bristol’s heritage’
Joining Bristol for its latest chapter is Richard Hackett, who previously served as a close adviser to former Bristol boss, Tony Crook. Hackett now takes on the role of Bristol’s chairman.
The announcement of the final Fighter models comes as the British marque celebrates the 80th anniversary of building its first car: a Bristol 400 in 1946.
Paul King, director of Bristol Cars, said: “Bringing Bristol Cars back is about far more than reviving a name; it is about bringing back the spirit of a marque that has always stood apart. Bristol has a remarkable story, from its roots in aviation and engineering to the extraordinary and exclusive cars it crafted. We want to honour that heritage while giving Bristol a future that is every bit as distinctive.
“To bring Bristol back to making cars in Britain, and with Richard Hackett returning to the company, we have brought together an exceptional combination of heritage, knowledge, engineering and craftsmanship. This is the beginning of Bristol’s return, and there is much more to come.”
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