1955 Bristol 405 vs. 1980 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1980 Mercury Cougar is newer by 25 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1955 Bristol 405. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1955 Bristol 405 would be higher. At 4,184 cc (8 cylinders), 1980 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Mercury Cougar (116 HP @ 3400 RPM) has 16 more horse power than 1955 Bristol 405. (100 HP @ 5000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1980 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1955 Bristol 405. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 170 kg more than 1955 Bristol 405. 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, 1980 Mercury Cougar (264 Nm @ 2200 RPM) has 112 more torque (in Nm) than 1955 Bristol 405. (152 Nm @ 3750 RPM). This means 1980 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1955 Bristol 405.
Compare all specifications:
| 1955 Bristol 405 | 1980 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | Bristol | Mercury |
| Model | 405 | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1955 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1971 cc | 4184 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 100 HP | 116 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Torque | 152 Nm | 264 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3750 RPM | 2200 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1240 kg | 1410 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4820 mm | 4960 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1730 mm | 1810 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1470 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2690 mm |
