1955 Austin A 135 vs. 1976 Bristol 412
To start off, 1976 Bristol 412 is newer by 21 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1955 Austin A 135. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1955 Austin A 135 would be higher. At 6,555 cc (8 cylinders), 1976 Bristol 412 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1976 Bristol 412 (208 HP @ 4400 RPM) has 90 more horse power than 1955 Austin A 135. (118 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1976 Bristol 412 should accelerate faster than 1955 Austin A 135. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1955 Austin A 135 weights approximately 470 kg more than 1976 Bristol 412.
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, 1976 Bristol 412 (422 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 171 more torque (in Nm) than 1955 Austin A 135. (251 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 1976 Bristol 412 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1955 Austin A 135. 1976 Bristol 412 has automatic transmission and 1955 Austin A 135 has manual transmission. 1955 Austin A 135 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1976 Bristol 412 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1955 Austin A 135 | 1976 Bristol 412 | |
| Make | Austin | Bristol |
| Model | A 135 | 412 |
| Year Released | 1955 | 1976 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3993 cc | 6555 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 118 HP | 208 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 251 Nm | 422 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 2180 kg | 1710 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5470 mm | 4950 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1900 mm | 1770 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1780 mm | 1440 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3360 mm | 2910 mm |
