1963 Bristol 408 vs. 1966 Ford GT 40
To start off, 1966 Ford GT 40 is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1963 Bristol 408. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1963 Bristol 408 would be higher. At 5,129 cc (8 cylinders), 1963 Bristol 408 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1966 Ford GT 40 (350 HP @ 7200 RPM) has 135 more horse power than 1963 Bristol 408. (215 HP @ 4400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1966 Ford GT 40 should accelerate faster than 1963 Bristol 408. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1963 Bristol 408 weights approximately 449 kg more than 1966 Ford GT 40.
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, 1963 Bristol 408 (463 Nm) has 378 more torque (in Nm) than 1966 Ford GT 40. (85 Nm). This means 1963 Bristol 408 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1966 Ford GT 40. 1963 Bristol 408 has automatic transmission and 1966 Ford GT 40 has manual transmission. 1966 Ford GT 40 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1963 Bristol 408 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1963 Bristol 408 | 1966 Ford GT 40 | |
| Make | Bristol | Ford |
| Model | 408 | GT 40 |
| Year Released | 1963 | 1966 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 5129 cc | 4195 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 215 HP | 350 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 7200 RPM |
| Torque | 463 Nm | 85 Nm |
| Engine Bore Size | 98.6 mm | 95.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 84.1 mm | 72.9 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 | 1136 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4920 mm | 4150 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1730 mm | 1780 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1510 mm | 1040 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2420 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 72 L | 125 L |
