1950 Austin A 70 vs. 1978 Bristol 412
To start off, 1978 Bristol 412 is newer by 28 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1950 Austin A 70. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1950 Austin A 70 would be higher. At 5,898 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Bristol 412 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Bristol 412 (171 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 108 more horse power than 1950 Austin A 70. (63 HP @ 3800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Bristol 412 should accelerate faster than 1950 Austin A 70. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Bristol 412 weights approximately 420 kg more than 1950 Austin A 70. 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. 1978 Bristol 412 has automatic transmission and 1950 Austin A 70 has manual transmission. 1950 Austin A 70 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Bristol 412 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1950 Austin A 70 | 1978 Bristol 412 | |
| Make | Austin | Bristol |
| Model | A 70 | 412 |
| Year Released | 1950 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2200 cc | 5898 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 63 HP | 171 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3800 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 79.4 mm | 101.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 111.1 mm | 90.9 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1270 kg | 1690 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4150 mm | 4950 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1690 mm | 1780 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1900 mm | 1450 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2440 mm | 2910 mm |
