1950 Bristol 401 vs. 1985 Aston Martin V8 Volante
To start off, 1985 Aston Martin V8 Volante is newer by 35 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 5,340 cc (8 cylinders), 1985 Aston Martin V8 Volante is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1985 Aston Martin V8 Volante (310 HP @ 5000 RPM) has 238 more horse power than 1950 Bristol 401. (72 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1985 Aston Martin V8 Volante should accelerate faster than 1950 Bristol 401. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1985 Aston Martin V8 Volante weights approximately 589 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, 1985 Aston Martin V8 Volante (434 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 289 more torque (in Nm) than 1950 Bristol 401. (145 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1985 Aston Martin V8 Volante will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1950 Bristol 401. 1985 Aston Martin V8 Volante 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. 1985 Aston Martin V8 Volante will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1950 Bristol 401 | 1985 Aston Martin V8 Volante | |
| Make | Bristol | Aston Martin |
| Model | 401 | V8 Volante |
| Year Released | 1950 | 1985 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1971 cc | 5340 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 72 HP | 310 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 145 Nm | 434 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 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 |
| Vehicle Weight | 1225 kg | 1814 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4870 mm | 4670 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1840 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1530 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2620 mm |
