1965 Bristol 408 vs. 1962 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1965 Bristol 408 is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1962 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1962 Lotus Elan 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 115 more horse power than 1962 Lotus Elan. (100 HP @ 5700 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1965 Bristol 408 should accelerate faster than 1962 Lotus Elan. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1965 Bristol 408 weights approximately 995 kg more than 1962 Lotus Elan. 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 326 more torque (in Nm) than 1962 Lotus Elan. (138 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1965 Bristol 408 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1962 Lotus Elan. 1965 Bristol 408 has automatic transmission and 1962 Lotus Elan has manual transmission. 1962 Lotus Elan 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 | 1962 Lotus Elan | |
Make | Bristol | Lotus |
Model | 408 | Elan |
Year Released | 1965 | 1962 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 5130 cc | 1496 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
Horse Power | 215 HP | 100 HP |
Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 5700 RPM |
Torque | 464 Nm | 138 Nm |
Torque RPM | 2800 RPM | 4000 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 98.6 mm | 81 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 84.1 mm | 72.7 mm |
Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
Vehicle Weight | 1585 kg | 590 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4920 mm | 3700 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1740 mm | 1430 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1510 mm | 1110 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2140 mm |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 81 L | 45 L |