1958 Abarth 500 vs. 1967 Bristol 409
To start off, 1967 Bristol 409 is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1958 Abarth 500. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1958 Abarth 500 would be higher. At 5,210 cc (8 cylinders), 1967 Bristol 409 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1967 Bristol 409 (215 HP) has 195 more horse power than 1958 Abarth 500. (20 HP) In normal driving conditions, 1967 Bristol 409 should accelerate faster than 1958 Abarth 500. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1967 Bristol 409 weights approximately 1155 kg more than 1958 Abarth 500. 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, 1967 Bristol 409 (463 Nm @ 2800 RPM) has 431 more torque (in Nm) than 1958 Abarth 500. (32 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1967 Bristol 409 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1958 Abarth 500. 1967 Bristol 409 has automatic transmission and 1958 Abarth 500 has manual transmission. 1958 Abarth 500 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1967 Bristol 409 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1958 Abarth 500 | 1967 Bristol 409 | |
| Make | Abarth | Bristol |
| Model | 500 | 409 |
| Year Released | 1958 | 1967 |
| Engine Position | Rear | Front |
| Engine Size | 479 cc | 5210 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 2 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 20 HP | 215 HP |
| Torque | 32 Nm | 463 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 2800 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 66 mm | 98.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 70 mm | 84.1 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 445 kg | 1600 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 2980 mm | 4920 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1330 mm | 1740 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1510 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 1850 mm | 2910 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 27 L | 81 L |
