1955 Austin A 30 vs. 1961 Bristol 407
To start off, 1961 Bristol 407 is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1955 Austin A 30. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1955 Austin A 30 would be higher. At 5,130 cc (8 cylinders), 1961 Bristol 407 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1961 Bristol 407 (215 HP @ 4400 RPM) has 187 more horse power than 1955 Austin A 30. (28 HP @ 4800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1961 Bristol 407 should accelerate faster than 1955 Austin A 30. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1961 Bristol 407 weights approximately 905 kg more than 1955 Austin A 30. 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, 1961 Bristol 407 (463 Nm @ 2800 RPM) has 409 more torque (in Nm) than 1955 Austin A 30. (54 Nm @ 2200 RPM). This means 1961 Bristol 407 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1955 Austin A 30. 1961 Bristol 407 has automatic transmission and 1955 Austin A 30 has manual transmission. 1955 Austin A 30 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1961 Bristol 407 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1955 Austin A 30 | 1961 Bristol 407 | |
| Make | Austin | Bristol |
| Model | A 30 | 407 |
| Year Released | 1955 | 1961 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 802 cc | 5130 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 28 HP | 215 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 54 Nm | 463 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2200 RPM | 2800 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 58 mm | 98.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 76 mm | 84.1 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 7.2:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 3 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 680 kg | 1585 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3470 mm | 5060 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1410 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1490 mm | 1530 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2030 mm | 2910 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 48 L | 81 L |
