Bristol Revives the V-10 Fighter SupercarBristol CarsAfter a few misfired attempts at coming back since its market departure 15 years ago, Bristol Cars has announced a triumphant return just in time for its 80th anniversary. Instead of using that milestone as an opportunity to look forward, the company is throwing it back to the Aughts with a limited run of new Bristol Fighter supercars announced at Salon Privé.The Bristol Fighter was initially introduced in 2004, and would ultimately serve as the brand's last production car completed before the company's liquidation in 2011. (There have been attempts to push new sheetmetal out in the intervening years, but circumstances have not been favorable to the painfully low-volume brand.) That said, the Fighter itself was a fitting tribute to the brand's origins in wartime aircraft production, bringing some seriously modern performance for the time to market.Its box-section chassis with bodywork developed by Brabham Formula One's Max Boxstrom was a solid start, but the real magic of the Fighter came under the hand-beaten panels. Pulling a reverse Carroll Shelby, Bristol sourced 8.0-liter V-10 engines from Dodge to power the cars. The Fighters were initially offered in 525-horsepower specification, but later Fighter S models saw that figure jump closer to 600 hp. The automaker claims that was enough shove to make the Fighter soar to 210 mph. Those are figures the new car aims to match.AdvertisementAdvertisementDespite its intriguing styling and undeniable Detroit-sourced grunt, the Fighter never quite took off. The brand is thought to have sold just 15 or so cars before the end of the run. That said, five leftover chassis remained, and those will serve as the basis for this new run of cars.The revived brand says that it plans to build these cars back to original spec, and that they will be working with a British manufacturing partner to help complete the builds. Customers will essentially have free range to make the cars as they see fit, including the ability to select a left-hand drive configuration. This first build is more traditional in its approach, however, going for right-hand drive and a timeless black-over-tan color scheme."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," said Paul King, director of Bristol Cars. "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."Bristol CarsIt's safe to assume that each of the four remaining Bristol Fighter builds are going to be tremendously expensive, as the automaker will not publicly share pricing information. That said, this is a unique opportunity for a die-hard group of fans to get their hands on a genuine Fighter. That's gotta be at least a little bit cooler than your typical restomod project.You Might Also LikeIf You Can Only Own One Car, Make It One of TheseThese Are the Most Popular Cars by State