Body style: Coupé (two-door)
Segment: Exotic
Production years: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
By 1999, Bristol remained one of the last British car manufacturers under British ownership, and the boutique brand struggled to survive with a new facelift for its aging Blenheim.
The nameplate was old, and the car was not a chicken spring either. And yet, Bristol managed to update the Blenheim and keep its name alive on the market. Still, there were not too many customers for this exclusive four-seat coupe that was moved by a Chrysler engine and sported an aviation-inspired interior.
Like its predecessors, the Blenheim 3 featured a four-round headlights system that made it look like a refreshed 1980s Ford Capri. Even the shape was, overall, similar. For the 1999 version, dubbed Blenheim 3, the vehicle received a new radiator grille with a chromed horizontal slat in the middle. Like its predecessors, the car's profile revealed a long hood and an unusually long distance between the front wheels and the A-pillar. At the back, the car got a new set of taillights, carried over from Opel Senator instead of the Opel Omega as before.
Inside, it was a mix of old and new designs. On one hand, the comfortable seats, the center console where the gear stick was placed, and the door cards belonged to the '90s. On the other hand, the dashboard designed in the '70s with a flat wood panel fronting the passengers and the WWII-warbirds-inspired instrument cluster were too classical. At least on top of it stood a new stereo. The cabin offered room for four adults on the front bucket seats and the rear bench.
Under the hood, there was the same 5.9-liter V8 unit from Chrysler but upgraded to deliver 350 hp. It was mated to a standard 4-speed automatic transmission. A special version, named Blenheim 3S, was available and provided more power and better brakes and suspension.
ENGINE SPECS - 5.9L V8 4AT RWD (350 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | V8 |
Displacement: | 5898 cm3 |
Power: | 257.4 KW @ 5500 RPM 350 HP @ 5500 RPM 345 BHP @ 5500 RPM |
Torque: | 391 lb-ft @ 4000 RPM 530 Nm @ 4000 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 157 mph (253 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 6.6 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 4-speed automatic |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 215/70 R15 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 191.7 in (4869 mm) |
Width: | 69.5 in (1765 mm) |
Height: | 56.7 in (1440 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 55.7/56.5 in (1,415/1,435 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 113.8 in (2891 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.1 in (130 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 19.1 cuFT (541 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.4 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 3929 lbs (1782 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 4927 lbs (2235 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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City: | 13.1 mpg US (18 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 23.5 mpg US (10 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 18.1 mpg US (13 L/100Km) |
ENGINE SPECS - 5.9L V8 4AT RWD (400 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | V8 |
Displacement: | 5898 cm3 |
Power: | 294.2 KW @ 6000 RPM 400 HP @ 6000 RPM 395 BHP @ 6000 RPM |
Torque: | 410 lb-ft @ 3500 RPM 556 Nm @ 3500 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 155 mph (249 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 6.4 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 4-speed automatic |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
---|---|
Tire Size: | 215/70 R15 |
DIMENSIONS | |
---|---|
Length: | 191.7 in (4869 mm) |
Width: | 69.5 in (1765 mm) |
Height: | 56.7 in (1440 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 55.7/56.5 in (1,415/1,435 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 113.8 in (2891 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 5.1 in (130 mm) |
Cargo Volume: | 19.1 cuFT (541 L) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.4 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 3997 lbs (1813 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 4927 lbs (2235 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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City: | 11.8 mpg US (19.9 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 19.6 mpg US (12 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 13.8 mpg US (17 L/100Km) |