1962 Bristol 407 vs. 1956 Porsche 356
To start off, 1962 Bristol 407 is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1956 Porsche 356. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1956 Porsche 356 would be higher. At 5,129 cc (8 cylinders), 1962 Bristol 407 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1962 Bristol 407 (215 HP @ 4400 RPM) has 115 more horse power than 1956 Porsche 356. (100 HP @ 6200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1962 Bristol 407 should accelerate faster than 1956 Porsche 356. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1962 Bristol 407 weights approximately 727 kg more than 1956 Porsche 356. 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, 1962 Bristol 407 (463 Nm @ 2800 RPM) has 342 more torque (in Nm) than 1956 Porsche 356. (121 Nm @ 5200 RPM). This means 1962 Bristol 407 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1956 Porsche 356. 1962 Bristol 407 has automatic transmission and 1956 Porsche 356 has manual transmission. 1956 Porsche 356 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1962 Bristol 407 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1962 Bristol 407 | 1956 Porsche 356 | |
| Make | Bristol | Porsche |
| Model | 407 | 356 |
| Year Released | 1962 | 1956 |
| Engine Position | Front | Rear |
| Engine Size | 5129 cc | 1498 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 215 HP | 100 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 6200 RPM |
| Torque | 463 Nm | 121 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2800 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 98.6 mm | 85 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 84.1 mm | 66 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1585 kg | 858 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4880 mm | 3960 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1740 mm | 1680 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1530 mm | 1320 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2110 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 81 L | 52 L |
