1951 Bristol 401 vs. 1976 Ford Cortina
To start off, 1976 Ford Cortina is newer by 25 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1951 Bristol 401. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1951 Bristol 401 would be higher. At 1,970 cc (6 cylinders), 1951 Bristol 401 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1976 Ford Cortina (90 HP @ 5700 RPM) has 18 more horse power than 1951 Bristol 401. (72 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1976 Ford Cortina should accelerate faster than 1951 Bristol 401. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1951 Bristol 401 weights approximately 190 kg more than 1976 Ford Cortina.
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, 1951 Bristol 401 (145 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 23 more torque (in Nm) than 1976 Ford Cortina. (122 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1951 Bristol 401 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1976 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1951 Bristol 401 | 1976 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | Bristol | Ford |
| Model | 401 | Cortina |
| Year Released | 1951 | 1976 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1970 cc | 1592 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 72 HP | 90 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 5700 RPM |
| Torque | 145 Nm | 122 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 66 mm | 87.7 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 96 mm | 66 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1225 kg | 1035 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4870 mm | 4350 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1530 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2590 mm |
