1959 Bristol 406 vs. 1958 Ford Zodiac
To start off, 1959 Bristol 406 is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1958 Ford Zodiac. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1958 Ford Zodiac would be higher. At 2,550 cc (6 cylinders), 1958 Ford Zodiac is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1959 Bristol 406 (91 HP @ 4700 RPM) has 15 more horse power than 1958 Ford Zodiac. (76 HP @ 4400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1959 Bristol 406 should accelerate faster than 1958 Ford Zodiac. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1959 Bristol 406 weights approximately 74 kg more than 1958 Ford Zodiac. 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 Ford Zodiac (187 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 13 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Bristol 406. (174 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1958 Ford Zodiac will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Bristol 406.
Compare all specifications:
| 1959 Bristol 406 | 1958 Ford Zodiac | |
| Make | Bristol | Ford |
| Model | 406 | Zodiac |
| Year Released | 1959 | 1958 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2216 cc | 2550 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 91 HP | 76 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4700 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 174 Nm | 187 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 68.7 mm | 82.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 99.6 mm | 79.5 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1266 kg | 1192 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4990 mm | 4600 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1720 mm | 1760 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1530 mm | 1590 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2720 mm |
