V10 Viper engined Fighters
I have become rather interested and involved with Bristol Fighters here in southern England. I’ve been a classic car electrician for over 30 years now and my recent encounters during the last two years have had me working on the prototype plus one other. Discretion forbids me to say whose or where but I have found it fascinating to have drawn the layout of all 40 fuses and numerous relays and locations and their purpose, one of which seems a little overloaded so could do with some extra help, then traced most of the wires individually through the car to create a wiring diagram (because it seems to be non existent so far, unless the heritage people discover the existence of it in the archives). Any news on that yet?
Quite interesting how various car manufacturers electrical parts were utilised to keep costs down whilst modifying as necessary to make the bits do the jobs, like the Toyota/Lexus ignition switch. The actual wiring loom it seems was actually custom made to Bristol design requirements.
Now as you probably know the famous bit is the Chrysler V10 Viper engine along with its Chrysler loom and engine control unit neatly plumbed in to the engine bay with the excess loom tucked up around the ecu mounted in the left hand front wing near the windscreen corner. It surprised me that the loom was not shortened to fit rather than be wrapped around to lose the excess. I’ve yet to discover if it uses the original American diagnostics for the Viper engine (which I may have access to).
I’m open to gaining further knowledge on this subject or standing to be corrected (said the man in orthopaedic shoes)! I’m not sure if anyone ever discusses the V10 Fighter as I’ve not seen it come up in the forums, perhaps because only 14 were made? But what a Supercar. The motoring media were certainly impressed by its power and top speed. Toby Silvertons’ introduction to the design and development is an interesting video on you tube.
It is an interesting challenge to seek the original parts used in the cars’ construction, like the gull winged door latches, Peugeot 204 I think?
Phil James
