Hi Scott,
The 410 and 411 and all other Bristols have excellent headroom. As you can see in this
photograph, Tony Crook, the owner of Bristol Cars was at least your height if not taller and he was known for having tall, narrow cars - a bit like himself.
I find I can drive my Bristol 411 with a hat on, and I am 6 feet. The comfort is exceptional, provided the car is not thrashed. The car was said to have been designed for four men to enjoy a two-week continental holiday in comfort, which means good headroom, ample leather seats and a cavernous boot (trunk).
The 410 and 411 have power steering, which is an improvement over the earlier cars which did not get power steering until midway through the 409. I have owned a 409 that did not - with the original type tyres it was a bit like in the 1940's movies with constant movement of the steering wheel to keep me on track. By the 410, it became a modern car and in my mind the 411 Series 1 and 2 are the best looking, best performing of all the V8 Bristols. There is a certain silkiness to the 411 as opposed to say the rubbery feel of a Mercedes.
If you are happy with right hand drive, there are more cars to select from. As an American, you may find a left hand drive car, but they are few. Generally for every 75 cars made, there might be one to three LHD. However, in 1995 in America, just before we moved to New Zealand, I could have bought a 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 409 and 410 all LHD and all in America (instead I took a RHD 411/M2). And, while all could be bought, none were advertised. Typically it was word of mouth, and at the time I was the North American registrar, so I kept a list of who might sell and who was looking. The price range was so wide that providing any meaningful numbers to NADA (I was on their classic car advisory board) was impossible. A 409 owner would decide he had the car too long (30 years), so he would take $7,500 and was happy to see it go (in fine shape, I should add). Later it would go up for auction and sell for $35,000.
The problem with the market is the cars are so rare that there is an insufficient market, which has the effect of keeping the prices down but also discourages great restorations. Few have ever heard of them. Thus, it is safe to say that Bristols are hard to buy when you are looking for one, and hard to sell when you decide it is time to move on. But whilst owning them, they give great pleasure. They truly are an owner's car, not a collector's.
Relative to exotic cars they are not difficult to maintain, but if you need a factory part, being a member of the fraternity of Bristol owners helps (there are at least three forums). Many parts are made by hand. At one point I needed a radiator cover which the factory was happy to sell me... next week. When I got it, it was clear they made it for me between the time I ordered it and the time they handed it to me. In the old days it was cheaper, easier and more fun to fly to London from New York for long weekend and fly back with the parts, but I haven't done that for 20 years so can't comment on today.
You will find the bigger challenge is to find the level of finish that suits your budget and desire. Much of what is on offer are restoration projects. Bristols are not bad cars to restore, but you should set aside five figures with big chunks for interiors, body work (aluminium not steel), sometimes chassis work if neglected and the many details that eat wallets. The powertrain is easy in America, being a Chrysler. But if you can find one where someone else has gone through the pain, you will be ahead.
Cheers
Claude