1949 Bristol 400 vs. 1980 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1980 Mercury Cougar is newer by 31 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 3,271 cc (6 cylinders), 1980 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Mercury Cougar (97 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 18 more horse power than 1949 Bristol 400. (79 HP @ 4200 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1980 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1949 Bristol 400. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 160 kg more than 1949 Bristol 400. 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, 1980 Mercury Cougar (218 Nm @ 1400 RPM) has 93 more torque (in Nm) than 1949 Bristol 400. (125 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1980 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1949 Bristol 400.
Compare all specifications:
| 1949 Bristol 400 | 1980 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | Bristol | Mercury |
| Model | 400 | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1949 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1971 cc | 3271 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 79 HP | 97 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4200 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 125 Nm | 218 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 1400 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1170 kg | 1330 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4650 mm | 4960 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1630 mm | 1810 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1510 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2690 mm |
