1951 Bristol 400 vs. 1982 Ford Thunderbird
To start off, 1982 Ford Thunderbird is newer by 31 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1951 Bristol 400. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1951 Bristol 400 would be higher. At 4,186 cc (8 cylinders), 1982 Ford Thunderbird is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1982 Ford Thunderbird (111 HP @ 3400 RPM) has 32 more horse power than 1951 Bristol 400. (79 HP @ 4200 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1982 Ford Thunderbird should accelerate faster than 1951 Bristol 400. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1982 Ford Thunderbird weights approximately 407 kg more than 1951 Bristol 400. 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, 1982 Ford Thunderbird (264 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 139 more torque (in Nm) than 1951 Bristol 400. (125 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1982 Ford Thunderbird will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1951 Bristol 400. 1982 Ford Thunderbird has automatic transmission and 1951 Bristol 400 has manual transmission. 1951 Bristol 400 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1982 Ford Thunderbird will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1951 Bristol 400 | 1982 Ford Thunderbird | |
| Make | Bristol | Ford |
| Model | 400 | Thunderbird |
| Year Released | 1951 | 1982 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1971 cc | 4186 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 79 HP | 111 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4200 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Torque | 125 Nm | 264 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 1600 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 66 mm | 93.5 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 96 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1170 kg | 1577 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4650 mm | 5100 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1630 mm | 1890 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1510 mm | 1350 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2760 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 54 L | 80 L |
