1951 Bristol 401 vs. 1977 Ford Cortina
To start off, 1977 Ford Cortina is newer by 26 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 1,997 cc (4 cylinders), 1977 Ford Cortina is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1977 Ford Cortina (86 HP @ 5300 RPM) has 14 more horse power than 1951 Bristol 401. (72 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1977 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 115 kg more than 1977 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 5 more torque (in Nm) than 1977 Ford Cortina. (140 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1951 Bristol 401 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1977 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1951 Bristol 401 | 1977 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | Bristol | Ford |
| Model | 401 | Cortina |
| Year Released | 1951 | 1977 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1970 cc | 1997 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 72 HP | 86 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 5300 RPM |
| Torque | 145 Nm | 140 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1225 kg | 1110 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4870 mm | 4380 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1530 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2580 mm |
