1963 Bristol 408 vs. 1980 Fiat 131
To start off, 1980 Fiat 131 is newer by 17 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, 1963 Bristol 408 (215 HP) has 162 more horse power than 1980 Fiat 131. (53 HP). In normal driving conditions, 1963 Bristol 408 should accelerate faster than 1980 Fiat 131. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1963 Bristol 408 weights approximately 619 kg more than 1980 Fiat 131. 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, 1963 Bristol 408 (463 Nm @ 2800 RPM) has 369 more torque (in Nm) than 1980 Fiat 131. (94 Nm @ 2700 RPM). This means 1963 Bristol 408 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1980 Fiat 131. 1963 Bristol 408 has automatic transmission and 1980 Fiat 131 has manual transmission. 1980 Fiat 131 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 | 1980 Fiat 131 | |
| Make | Bristol | Fiat |
| Model | 408 | 131 |
| Year Released | 1963 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5129 cc | 1297 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 215 HP | 53 HP |
| Torque | 463 Nm | 94 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2800 RPM | 2700 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1585 kg | 966 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4920 mm | 4270 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1730 mm | 1660 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1510 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2500 mm |
