1949 Bristol 401 vs. 1978 Ford Capri
To start off, 1978 Ford Capri is newer by 29 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1949 Bristol 401. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1949 Bristol 401 would be higher. At 1,971 cc (6 cylinders), 1949 Bristol 401 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Ford Capri (87 HP @ 5700 RPM) has 15 more horse power than 1949 Bristol 401. (72 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Ford Capri should accelerate faster than 1949 Bristol 401. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1949 Bristol 401 weights approximately 200 kg more than 1978 Ford Capri.
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, 1949 Bristol 401 (145 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 20 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Ford Capri. (125 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1949 Bristol 401 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Ford Capri.
Compare all specifications:
| 1949 Bristol 401 | 1978 Ford Capri | |
| Make | Bristol | Ford |
| Model | 401 | Capri |
| Year Released | 1949 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1971 cc | 1593 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 72 HP | 87 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 5700 RPM |
| Torque | 145 Nm | 125 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 66 mm | 80.1 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 96 mm | 79.5 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 1225 kg | 1025 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4870 mm | 4380 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1530 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2570 mm |
