1965 Bristol 408 vs. 1954 Bristol 403
To start off, 1965 Bristol 408 is newer by 11 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1954 Bristol 403. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1954 Bristol 403 would be higher. At 5,130 cc (8 cylinders), 1965 Bristol 408 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1965 Bristol 408 (215 HP @ 4400 RPM) has 129 more horse power than 1954 Bristol 403. (86 HP @ 5000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1965 Bristol 408 should accelerate faster than 1954 Bristol 403. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1965 Bristol 408 weights approximately 360 kg more than 1954 Bristol 403. 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, 1965 Bristol 408 (464 Nm @ 2800 RPM) has 318 more torque (in Nm) than 1954 Bristol 403. (146 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1965 Bristol 408 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1954 Bristol 403. 1965 Bristol 408 has automatic transmission and 1954 Bristol 403 has manual transmission. 1954 Bristol 403 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1965 Bristol 408 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1965 Bristol 408 | 1954 Bristol 403 | |
| Make | Bristol | Bristol |
| Model | 408 | 403 |
| Year Released | 1965 | 1954 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5130 cc | 1971 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 215 HP | 86 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 464 Nm | 146 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2800 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1585 kg | 1225 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4920 mm | 4870 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1740 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1510 mm | 1530 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2900 mm |
