An iconic British automaker, Bristol Cars, is about to be resurrected. The dormant brand, which was liquidated last year, will be transformed into a “leading British electric vehicle company”, according to a report from Autocar.
Bristol Cars was an English manufacturer of hand-built luxury vehicles that was founded in 1945. The 75-year-old company was a low-volume manufacturer that was notoriously selective in its choice of clientele. However, the company entered liquidation in February 2020. Its rights and IP were acquired earlier this year by Jason Wharton, who plans to revive the brand.
Before they make the switch to EVs, Bristol will begin offering ‘remastered’ continuation versions of some of its most iconic models. Deliveries will start in 2022, with cars featuring exterior and interior upgrades. Under the hood, each car will be powered by a 6.4-liter Chrysler Hemi V8 coupled to an eight-speed ZF gearbox, with updated suspension and electrical components.
Models that will undergo recreation include the 411 Series 8, Fighter, and Speedster, with prices starting at £495,000 ($696,000) before taxes, a pretty penny to say the least. Then again, Bristols were never known to be cheap.
Read: Investor Wants All-New Model To Revive Bristol Cars
But those hoping that Bristol will retain their gas-powered roots will be sorely disappointed. Autocar reported earlier this year that this remastered series will be Bristol’s final internal combustion engine line-up, as the company intends to become fully electric by 2025. The first EV will be the Buccaneer, a four-seater that is classically Bristol with a blend of modern technology. Both remastered and electric vehicles will be built in Filton, Bristol, the birthplace of the company, while a London showroom is also very likely.
In spring 2022, Bristol plans to appoint a CEO, engineering boss, and two non-executive directors with a “significant capital raise”. Wharton is yet to reveal his financial goals but said that he plans to attract investors in order to make the company one of the leading electric car manufacturers in England by 2026.
