1964 Bristol 408 vs. 1995 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1995 Lotus Esprit is newer by 31 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1964 Bristol 408. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1964 Bristol 408 would be higher. At 5,130 cc (8 cylinders), 1964 Bristol 408 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1995 Lotus Esprit (286 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 70 more horse power than 1964 Bristol 408. (216 HP @ 4400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1995 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1964 Bristol 408. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1964 Bristol 408 weights approximately 246 kg more than 1995 Lotus Esprit.
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, 1964 Bristol 408 (463 Nm @ 2800 RPM) has 109 more torque (in Nm) than 1995 Lotus Esprit. (354 Nm @ 3900 RPM). This means 1964 Bristol 408 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1995 Lotus Esprit. 1964 Bristol 408 has automatic transmission and 1995 Lotus Esprit has manual transmission. 1995 Lotus Esprit will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1964 Bristol 408 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1964 Bristol 408 | 1995 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Bristol | Lotus |
| Model | 408 | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1964 | 1995 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 5130 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 216 HP | 286 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 463 Nm | 354 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2800 RPM | 3900 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 98.6 mm | 95.3 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 84.1 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 8.0:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1585 kg | 1339 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4920 mm | 4380 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1740 mm | 1890 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1510 mm | 1150 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2430 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 81 L | 73 L |
