1958 Bristol 406 vs. 1972 Ford Cortina
To start off, 1972 Ford Cortina is newer by 14 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1958 Bristol 406. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1958 Bristol 406 would be higher. At 2,216 cc (6 cylinders), 1958 Bristol 406 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1958 Bristol 406 (91 HP @ 4700 RPM) has 35 more horse power than 1972 Ford Cortina. (56 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1958 Bristol 406 should accelerate faster than 1972 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1958 Bristol 406 weights approximately 216 kg more than 1972 Ford Cortina. 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, 1958 Bristol 406 (174 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 83 more torque (in Nm) than 1972 Ford Cortina. (91 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1958 Bristol 406 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1972 Ford Cortina.
Compare all specifications:
| 1958 Bristol 406 | 1972 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | Bristol | Ford |
| Model | 406 | Cortina |
| Year Released | 1958 | 1972 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2216 cc | 1298 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 91 HP | 56 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4700 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 174 Nm | 91 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 68.7 mm | 81 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 99.6 mm | 63 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.5:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1260 kg | 1044 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4990 mm | 4280 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1730 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1530 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2590 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 81 L | 87 L |
