1948 Bristol 401 vs. 1981 Holden Commodore
To start off, 1981 Holden Commodore is newer by 33 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 7 more horse power than 1981 Holden Commodore. (78 HP @ 4600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1948 Bristol 401 should accelerate faster than 1981 Holden Commodore. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1948 Bristol 401 weights approximately 65 kg more than 1981 Holden Commodore. 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 5 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Holden Commodore. (140 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1948 Bristol 401 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Holden Commodore. 1981 Holden Commodore has automatic transmission and 1948 Bristol 401 has manual transmission. 1948 Bristol 401 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1981 Holden Commodore will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
1948 Bristol 401 | 1981 Holden Commodore | |
Make | Bristol | Holden |
Model | 401 | Commodore |
Year Released | 1948 | 1981 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1969 cc | 1892 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 85 HP | 78 HP |
Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 4600 RPM |
Torque | 145 Nm | 140 Nm |
Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 2400 RPM |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1225 kg | 1160 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4870 mm | 4710 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1730 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1530 mm | 1370 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2670 mm |