1950 Bristol 401 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 Bristol 401. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1950 Bristol 401 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 99 more horse power than 1950 Bristol 401. (72 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Bristol 412 should accelerate faster than 1950 Bristol 401. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Bristol 412 weights approximately 465 kg more than 1950 Bristol 401. 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, 1978 Bristol 412 (366 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 221 more torque (in Nm) than 1950 Bristol 401. (145 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1978 Bristol 412 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1950 Bristol 401. 1978 Bristol 412 has automatic transmission and 1950 Bristol 401 has manual transmission. 1950 Bristol 401 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 Bristol 401 | 1978 Bristol 412 | |
| Make | Bristol | Bristol |
| Model | 401 | 412 |
| Year Released | 1950 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1971 cc | 5898 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 72 HP | 171 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 145 Nm | 366 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 66 mm | 101.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 96 mm | 90.9 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 1225 kg | 1690 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4870 mm | 4950 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1780 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1530 mm | 1450 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2910 mm |
