1949 Bristol 400 vs. 1978 Opel Rekord
To start off, 1978 Opel Rekord is newer by 29 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1949 Bristol 400. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1949 Bristol 400 would be higher. At 1,971 cc (6 cylinders), 1949 Bristol 400 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Opel Rekord (90 HP @ 5200 RPM) has 11 more horse power than 1949 Bristol 400. (79 HP @ 4200 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Opel Rekord should accelerate faster than 1949 Bristol 400. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1949 Bristol 400 weights approximately 66 kg more than 1978 Opel Rekord.
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, 1978 Opel Rekord (142 Nm @ 3800 RPM) has 17 more torque (in Nm) than 1949 Bristol 400. (125 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1978 Opel Rekord will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1949 Bristol 400.
Compare all specifications:
| 1949 Bristol 400 | 1978 Opel Rekord | |
| Make | Bristol | Opel |
| Model | 400 | Rekord |
| Year Released | 1949 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1971 cc | 1689 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 79 HP | 90 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4200 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 125 Nm | 142 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1170 kg | 1104 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4650 mm | 4600 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1630 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1510 mm | 1430 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2680 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 54 L | 65 L |
