Bristol 411

The Bristol 411 is an automobile which was built by the British manufacturer Bristol Cars from 1969 to 1976. It was the fifth series of Chrysler-V8 engined Bristol models. The car was rated highly for its comfort, performance and handling by contemporary reviewers.[2][3]

Bristol 411
Bristol 411 Series 1
Overview
ManufacturerBristol Cars
Production1969–1976
287 produced
Body and chassis
ClassSports saloon
Body style2-door saloon
LayoutFR layout
Powertrain
Engine6,286 cc OHV V8
6,556 cc OHV V8
Transmission3-speed automatic[1]
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,896 mm (114.0 in)[1]
Length4,902 mm (193.0 in)[1]
Width1,727 mm (68.0 in)[1]
Height1,460 mm (57.5 in)-1,473 mm (58.0 in)[1]
Curb weight1,676 kg (3,695 lb)-1,712 kg (3,774 lb)[1]
Chronology
PredecessorBristol 410
SuccessorBristol 603
Bristol 412

With the 411, Bristol, for the first time since the 407 was introduced, made a change of engine. Although they were still using a Chrysler V8 engine, the old A type engine was gone. Replacing it was the much larger big-block B series engine of 6,277 cc (383.0 cubic inches) - as compared to the 5,211 cc of the 410.[4] This much larger engine gave the 411 an estimated 30 percent more power than had been found in the 410. The 411 was capable of 230 km/h (143 mph). To cope with this extra power, a limited slip differential was fitted.[5]

The interior showed a number of important changes from the Bristol 410. The traditional Blümel twin-spoke steering wheel was replaced by a more practical three-spoked leather-wrapped wheel,[6][7] which as a result of the traditional Bristol badge being removed from the front of the car, was the only place where this badge was retained.

Changes

Over its seven years in production, the 411 showed a number of changes. The 1971 Series 2 added self-levelling suspension and a metric odometer, while the Series 3 from a year later had a lower compression ratio and completely revised styling. This edition was the first Bristol to possess the four-headlamp layout that was oddly anticipated by some of the company's earliest models, and to power this a bigger alternator was used. For the Series 4 of 1974, the compression ratio was reduced dramatically (from 9.5:1 to 8.2:1) but this was compensated by using a larger version of the B series engine with a capacity of 6,556 cc (400.1 cubic inches). The rear lights were also changed using vertically mounted rectangular Lucas clusters, that carried over to the early 603 models. The Series 5 made from 1975 to 1976 had the original Bristol badge restored and was the first Bristol to feature inertia reel seat belts.[8]

In the 2010s Bristol Cars offered a modernised version of the Bristol 411, the Series 6.[9] This was a refurbished version based on existing 411s. The only engine is the fuel injected 5.9 litre V8 as used in the later Bristol Blenheim, allowing for up to 400 hp (298 kW) depending on the customer's desires.

  • Series 1 interior
  • Series 1, rear view
  • Bristol 411 Series 4, with quad headlights
  • Series 6

Notes
  1. "Bristol 411". carfolio.com. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
  2. Sheffield Sunday Post, Jan 25, 1970
  3. Autosport, August 20, 1970
  4. "The Bristol Cars Story". Bristol Cars. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  5. "Bristol 411 S5". Fender Broad. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  6. "1971 Bristol 411 Series 2". Bristol Cars. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  7. "Bristol Type 411 — Saloon". Bristol Owners Club. Archived from the original on 10 January 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  8. "Bristol Type 411". Bristol Owners Club. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  9. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 February 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-19.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Bristol 411 Series 6
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