1951 Bristol 401 vs. 1977 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1977 Mercury Cougar 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 4,942 cc (8 cylinders), 1977 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1977 Mercury Cougar (133 HP @ 3400 RPM) has 61 more horse power than 1951 Bristol 401. (72 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1977 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1951 Bristol 401. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1977 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 630 kg more than 1951 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, 1977 Mercury Cougar (336 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 191 more torque (in Nm) than 1951 Bristol 401. (145 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1977 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1951 Bristol 401.
Compare all specifications:
| 1951 Bristol 401 | 1977 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | Bristol | Mercury |
| Model | 401 | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1951 | 1977 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1970 cc | 4942 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 72 HP | 133 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Torque | 145 Nm | 336 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 1600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 1225 kg | 1855 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4870 mm | 5480 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 2010 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1530 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2910 mm |
