1949 Bristol 400 vs. 1984 Aston Martin V8 Volante
To start off, 1984 Aston Martin V8 Volante is newer by 35 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 5,339 cc (8 cylinders), 1984 Aston Martin V8 Volante is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1984 Aston Martin V8 Volante (309 HP @ 5000 RPM) has 230 more horse power than 1949 Bristol 400. (79 HP @ 4200 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1984 Aston Martin V8 Volante should accelerate faster than 1949 Bristol 400. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1984 Aston Martin V8 Volante weights approximately 644 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, 1984 Aston Martin V8 Volante (434 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 309 more torque (in Nm) than 1949 Bristol 400. (125 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1984 Aston Martin V8 Volante will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1949 Bristol 400. 1984 Aston Martin V8 Volante has automatic transmission and 1949 Bristol 400 has manual transmission. 1949 Bristol 400 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1984 Aston Martin V8 Volante will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1949 Bristol 400 | 1984 Aston Martin V8 Volante | |
| Make | Bristol | Aston Martin |
| Model | 400 | V8 Volante |
| Year Released | 1949 | 1984 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1971 cc | 5339 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 79 HP | 309 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4200 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 125 Nm | 434 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 66 mm | 100 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 96 mm | 85 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1170 kg | 1814 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4650 mm | 4670 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1630 mm | 1890 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1510 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2620 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 54 L | 97 L |
