1950 Bristol 401 vs. 1978 Ferrari 308
To start off, 1978 Ferrari 308 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 2,927 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Ferrari 308 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Ferrari 308 (255 HP @ 7700 RPM) has 183 more horse power than 1950 Bristol 401. (72 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Ferrari 308 should accelerate faster than 1950 Bristol 401. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Ferrari 308 weights approximately 140 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 Ferrari 308 (283 Nm @ 5500 RPM) has 138 more torque (in Nm) than 1950 Bristol 401. (145 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1978 Ferrari 308 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1950 Bristol 401.
Compare all specifications:
| 1950 Bristol 401 | 1978 Ferrari 308 | |
| Make | Bristol | Ferrari |
| Model | 401 | 308 |
| Year Released | 1950 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1971 cc | 2927 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 72 HP | 255 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 7700 RPM |
| Torque | 145 Nm | 283 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 66 mm | 81 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 96 mm | 71 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 1225 kg | 1365 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4870 mm | 4310 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1720 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1530 mm | 1220 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2560 mm |
