1965 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III vs. 1976 Bristol 603
To start off, 1976 Bristol 603 is newer by 11 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1965 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1965 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III would be higher. At 5,210 cc (8 cylinders), 1976 Bristol 603 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1965 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III (146 HP @ 5250 RPM) has 1 more horse power than 1976 Bristol 603. (145 HP @ 4000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1965 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III should accelerate faster than 1976 Bristol 603. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 Bristol 603 weights approximately 605 kg more than 1965 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III.
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, 1976 Bristol 603 (333 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 167 more torque (in Nm) than 1965 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III. (166 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1976 Bristol 603 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1965 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III. 1976 Bristol 603 has automatic transmission and 1965 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III has manual transmission. 1965 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1976 Bristol 603 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1965 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III | 1976 Bristol 603 | |
| Make | Austin-Healey | Bristol |
| Model | 3000 Mk III | 603 |
| Year Released | 1965 | 1976 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2912 cc | 5210 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 146 HP | 145 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5250 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 166 Nm | 333 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 1600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Top Speed | 195 km/hour | 225 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1180 kg | 1785 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4010 mm | 4920 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1540 mm | 1780 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1250 mm | 1450 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2340 mm | 2910 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 54 L | 81 L |
