1964 Austin Mini Cooper vs. 1978 Bristol 412
To start off, 1978 Bristol 412 is newer by 14 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1964 Austin Mini Cooper. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1964 Austin Mini Cooper would be higher. At 5,898 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Bristol 412 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Bristol 412 (171 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 95 more horse power than 1964 Austin Mini Cooper. (76 HP @ 5900 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Bristol 412 should accelerate faster than 1964 Austin Mini Cooper. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Bristol 412 weights approximately 1040 kg more than 1964 Austin Mini Cooper. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1978 Bristol 412 is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1978 Bristol 412. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1964 Austin Mini Cooper, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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, 1978 Bristol 412 (366 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 270 more torque (in Nm) than 1964 Austin Mini Cooper. (96 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1978 Bristol 412 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1964 Austin Mini Cooper. 1978 Bristol 412 has automatic transmission and 1964 Austin Mini Cooper has manual transmission. 1964 Austin Mini Cooper will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Bristol 412 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1964 Austin Mini Cooper | 1978 Bristol 412 | |
| Make | Austin | Bristol |
| Model | Mini Cooper | 412 |
| Year Released | 1964 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1275 cc | 5898 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 76 HP | 171 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5900 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 96 Nm | 366 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 70.6 mm | 101.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 81.3 mm | 90.9 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.8:1 | 8.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Front | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 650 kg | 1690 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3060 mm | 4950 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1420 mm | 1780 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1450 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2040 mm | 2910 mm |
