The old-school charm of motoring has been still nurtured by a few car makers who believe in building pure machines. They may not be outright the fastest or the best handling, but the mirth spread by their creations fill up the void left by excessive engineering and financial math. Bristol, known for their hand-built cars, have debuted their latest roadster called the Bullet after production of their previous car, the Fighter, was stopped in 2011.
The front fascia depicts British vintage with the fender mounted headlamps, sleek contours, and a nose-like front grille sitting low. The auxiliary lamps add to the retro styling and the chin spoiler adds the touch of modern sportiness.
It has got the typical roadster profile, a long hood, a short windshield, two suicide doors and minimal rear overhang. The shoulder line extends from the headlamps to the tail and the creases emanating out of the wheel arches adds drama to the profile.
The top view reveals a bodyline typical to the 60s and 70s that tapered towards the front. The hood scoop adds character to the Bullet while it retains the old-school exposed fuel filler cap reminding us of its 1945 roots.
The Bullet exudes vintage styling from every quarter, especially the company badge that adorns the tail. Written in classic cursive font it takes us back to the British roots. The company still operates out of only one dealership on Kensington High Street in London.
The rich cabin is wrapped in bright leather and has been kept simple to go with the classic styling. But that has not hindered the modern equipment like a touch-screen infotainment system, multi-function display et al from making their way into the cabin.
The 4.8-litre 370bhp and near 500Nm torque petrol V8 engine has been sourced from BMW and powers the car over 100kmph in 3.8 seconds. The picture also reveals the ultra-modern carbon fibre underpinnings underneath.
The tail is probably a mix of the Stingray and the 50s American fin-tails. The pointed tail has fins at the ends that house the little round tail lamps. The chin spoiler under the rear bumper and the twin exhaust pipes do scream performance.
