1960 Bristol 406 vs. 1965 Bristol 409
To start off, 1965 Bristol 409 is newer by 5 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1960 Bristol 406. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1960 Bristol 406 would be higher. At 5,211 cc (8 cylinders), 1965 Bristol 409 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1965 Bristol 409 (215 HP @ 4400 RPM) has 124 more horse power than 1960 Bristol 406. (91 HP @ 4700 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1965 Bristol 409 should accelerate faster than 1960 Bristol 406. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1965 Bristol 409 weights approximately 340 kg more than 1960 Bristol 406. 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, 1965 Bristol 409 (463 Nm @ 2800 RPM) has 289 more torque (in Nm) than 1960 Bristol 406. (174 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1965 Bristol 409 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1960 Bristol 406. 1965 Bristol 409 has automatic transmission and 1960 Bristol 406 has manual transmission. 1960 Bristol 406 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1965 Bristol 409 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1960 Bristol 406 | 1965 Bristol 409 | |
| Make | Bristol | Bristol |
| Model | 406 | 409 |
| Year Released | 1960 | 1965 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2215 cc | 5211 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 91 HP | 215 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4700 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 174 Nm | 463 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 2800 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 68.7 mm | 98.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 99.6 mm | 84.1 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1260 kg | 1600 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4990 mm | 4920 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1720 mm | 1740 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1530 mm | 1510 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2910 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 81 L | 81 L |
