1958 Berkeley Foursome vs. 1966 Bristol 409
To start off, 1966 Bristol 409 is newer by 8 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1958 Berkeley Foursome. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1958 Berkeley Foursome would be higher. At 5,211 cc (8 cylinders), 1966 Bristol 409 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1966 Bristol 409 (215 HP @ 4400 RPM) has 185 more horse power than 1958 Berkeley Foursome. (30 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1966 Bristol 409 should accelerate faster than 1958 Berkeley Foursome. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1966 Bristol 409 weights approximately 1244 kg more than 1958 Berkeley Foursome. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1966 Bristol 409 is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1966 Bristol 409. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1958 Berkeley Foursome, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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, 1966 Bristol 409 (463 Nm @ 2800 RPM) has 414 more torque (in Nm) than 1958 Berkeley Foursome. (49 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1966 Bristol 409 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1958 Berkeley Foursome. 1966 Bristol 409 has automatic transmission and 1958 Berkeley Foursome has manual transmission. 1958 Berkeley Foursome will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1966 Bristol 409 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1958 Berkeley Foursome | 1966 Bristol 409 | |
| Make | Berkeley | Bristol |
| Model | Foursome | 409 |
| Year Released | 1958 | 1966 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 592 cc | 5211 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 2 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 30 HP | 215 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 49 Nm | 463 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 2800 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Front | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 356 kg | 1600 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3340 mm | 4920 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1380 mm | 1740 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1180 mm | 1510 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 1990 mm | 2910 mm |
