1962 Bristol 407 vs. 2003 Caterham 7
To start off, 2003 Caterham 7 is newer by 41 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1962 Bristol 407. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1962 Bristol 407 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 55 more horse power than 2003 Caterham 7. (160 HP @ 7500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1962 Bristol 407 should accelerate faster than 2003 Caterham 7. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1962 Bristol 407 weights approximately 1085 kg more than 2003 Caterham 7. 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 287 more torque (in Nm) than 2003 Caterham 7. (176 Nm @ 5750 RPM). This means 1962 Bristol 407 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2003 Caterham 7. 1962 Bristol 407 has automatic transmission and 2003 Caterham 7 has manual transmission. 2003 Caterham 7 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 | 2003 Caterham 7 | |
| Make | Bristol | Caterham |
| Model | 407 | 7 |
| Year Released | 1962 | 2003 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5129 cc | 1794 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 215 HP | 160 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 7500 RPM |
| Torque | 463 Nm | 176 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2800 RPM | 5750 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 98.6 mm | 80 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 84.1 mm | 89.3 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1585 kg | 500 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4880 mm | 3110 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1740 mm | 1580 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1530 mm | 810 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2230 mm |
