1964 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III vs. 1979 Bristol 412
To start off, 1979 Bristol 412 is newer by 15 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1964 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1964 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III would be higher. At 5,898 cc (8 cylinders), 1979 Bristol 412 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1979 Bristol 412 (171 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 23 more horse power than 1964 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III. (148 HP @ 5250 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1979 Bristol 412 should accelerate faster than 1964 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Bristol 412 weights approximately 510 kg more than 1964 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III. 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, 1979 Bristol 412 (366 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 141 more torque (in Nm) than 1964 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III. (225 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1979 Bristol 412 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1964 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III. 1979 Bristol 412 has automatic transmission and 1964 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III has manual transmission. 1964 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1979 Bristol 412 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1964 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III | 1979 Bristol 412 | |
| Make | Austin-Healey | Bristol |
| Model | 3000 Mk III | 412 |
| Year Released | 1964 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2912 cc | 5898 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 148 HP | 171 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5250 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 225 Nm | 366 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 83.4 mm | 101.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 88.9 mm | 90.9 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1180 kg | 1690 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4010 mm | 4950 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1540 mm | 1780 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1240 mm | 1450 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2340 mm | 2910 mm |
