1948 Bristol 401 vs. 1980 Ford Cortina
To start off, 1980 Ford Cortina is newer by 32 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1948 Bristol 401. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1948 Bristol 401 would be higher. At 1,969 cc (6 cylinders), 1948 Bristol 401 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1948 Bristol 401 (85 HP @ 4500 RPM) has 26 more horse power than 1980 Ford Cortina. (59 HP @ 5750 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1948 Bristol 401 should accelerate faster than 1980 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1948 Bristol 401 weights approximately 223 kg more than 1980 Ford Cortina. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Both vehicles are rear wheel drive (RWD) - it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, both vehicles do the job better than front wheel drive vehicles. With that said, do keep in mind that many other factors such as speed and the wear on your tires can also have significant impact on traction and control. Let's talk about torque, 1948 Bristol 401 (145 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 53 more torque (in Nm) than 1980 Ford Cortina. (92 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1948 Bristol 401 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1980 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1948 Bristol 401 | 1980 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | Bristol | Ford |
| Model | 401 | Cortina |
| Year Released | 1948 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1969 cc | 1294 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 85 HP | 59 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 5750 RPM |
| Torque | 145 Nm | 92 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 66 mm | 81 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 96 mm | 63 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 7.5:1 | 9.2:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1225 kg | 1002 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4870 mm | 4350 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1530 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2590 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 77 L | 54 L |
