Bristol 406
Encyclopedia
The Bristol 406 was a luxury car produced between 1958 and 1961 by British
manufacturer Bristol Aeroplane Co. (whose car division later became Bristol Cars
). It was the last Bristol to use the BMW
-derived pushrod straight six engine that had powered all cars built by the company up to that point but was clearly inadequate to give the car performance comparable to that of newer engines emerging at the time.
According to the official history of Bristol Cars, the company was working on a new six cylinder engine during the period when the 406 was in production. Only when Bristol found any new six cylinder engine it could develop would still be unable to compete with newer engines of larger size, did they decide to import V8 engines from Chrysler.
Compared to the 405
, the 406 saw several significant changes. The most important was that the six cylinder engine itself was enlarged slightly in both bore and stroke
to dimensions of 69 mm by 100 mm (2.71 inches by 3.94 inches). This gave an engine displacement
of 2216 cc (135 cubic inches) but the actual power of the engine was no greater than that of the 405. However, the torque
was higher than the smaller engine, especially at low engine speeds. The 406 also featured Dunlop-built disc brake
s on all four wheels (making it one of the first cars with four-wheel disc brakes) and a two-door saloon body Bristol were to stick with for a long period after adopting Chrysler
V8 engines with the 407. The styling made the 406 more of a luxury car than a true sports saloon. It was, nevertheless, "a delight to drive".
The rear suspension
of the 406 also did away with the outdated A-bracket of all previous Bristols for a more modern Watt's linkage
. However, the outdated front suspension of previous Bristols was retained and not updated until the following model with its more powerful drivetrain.
Two short-wheelbase
406s, known as 406Ss, were bodied by Zagato
. In all, there were only six 406s with Zagato bodies.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
manufacturer Bristol Aeroplane Co. (whose car division later became Bristol Cars
Bristol Cars
Bristol Cars is a manufacturer of hand-built luxury cars headquartered in Patchway, near Bristol, United Kingdom. Bristol have always been a low-volume manufacturer; the most recent published official production figures were for 1982, which stated that 104 cars were produced in that year...
). It was the last Bristol to use the BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
-derived pushrod straight six engine that had powered all cars built by the company up to that point but was clearly inadequate to give the car performance comparable to that of newer engines emerging at the time.
According to the official history of Bristol Cars, the company was working on a new six cylinder engine during the period when the 406 was in production. Only when Bristol found any new six cylinder engine it could develop would still be unable to compete with newer engines of larger size, did they decide to import V8 engines from Chrysler.
Compared to the 405
Bristol 405
The Bristol 404 and Bristol 405 were British luxury cars manufactured by Bristol Aeroplane Co., whose car division later became Bristol Cars. The models were successors to the Bristol 403 built between 1953 and 1958....
, the 406 saw several significant changes. The most important was that the six cylinder engine itself was enlarged slightly in both bore and stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
to dimensions of 69 mm by 100 mm (2.71 inches by 3.94 inches). This gave an engine displacement
Engine displacement
Engine displacement is the volume swept by all the pistons inside the cylinders of an internal combustion engine in a single movement from top dead centre to bottom dead centre . It is commonly specified in cubic centimeters , litres , or cubic inches...
of 2216 cc (135 cubic inches) but the actual power of the engine was no greater than that of the 405. However, the torque
Torque
Torque, moment or moment of force , is the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis, fulcrum, or pivot. Just as a force is a push or a pull, a torque can be thought of as a twist....
was higher than the smaller engine, especially at low engine speeds. The 406 also featured Dunlop-built disc brake
Disc brake
The disc brake or disk brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of a wheel while it is in motion.A brake disc is usually made of cast iron, but may in some cases be made of composites such as reinforced carbon–carbon or ceramic matrix composites. This is connected to the wheel and/or...
s on all four wheels (making it one of the first cars with four-wheel disc brakes) and a two-door saloon body Bristol were to stick with for a long period after adopting Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
V8 engines with the 407. The styling made the 406 more of a luxury car than a true sports saloon. It was, nevertheless, "a delight to drive".
The rear suspension
Suspension (vehicle)
Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. Suspension systems serve a dual purpose — contributing to the car's roadholding/handling and braking for good active safety and driving pleasure, and keeping vehicle occupants...
of the 406 also did away with the outdated A-bracket of all previous Bristols for a more modern Watt's linkage
Watt's linkage
Watt's linkage is a type of mechanical linkage invented by James Watt in which the central moving point of the linkage is constrained to travel on an approximation to a straight line...
. However, the outdated front suspension of previous Bristols was retained and not updated until the following model with its more powerful drivetrain.
Two short-wheelbase
Wheelbase
In both road and rail vehicles, the wheelbase is the distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels.- Road :In automobiles, the wheelbase is the horizontal distance between the center of the front wheel and the center of the rear wheel...
406s, known as 406Ss, were bodied by Zagato
Zagato
Zagato is a design consultancy and engineering services company situated just outside Milan, Italy.The company's premises occupy an area of , of which are covered....
. In all, there were only six 406s with Zagato bodies.