1965 Bristol 408 vs. 1988 Honda NSX
To start off, 1988 Honda NSX is newer by 23 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1965 Bristol 408. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1965 Bristol 408 would be higher. At 5,130 cc (8 cylinders), 1965 Bristol 408 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 Honda NSX (251 HP @ 6800 RPM) has 36 more horse power than 1965 Bristol 408. (215 HP @ 4400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1988 Honda NSX should accelerate faster than 1965 Bristol 408. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1965 Bristol 408 weights approximately 369 kg more than 1988 Honda NSX.
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 176 more torque (in Nm) than 1988 Honda NSX. (288 Nm @ 5300 RPM). This means 1965 Bristol 408 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1988 Honda NSX. 1965 Bristol 408 has automatic transmission and 1988 Honda NSX has manual transmission. 1988 Honda NSX 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 | 1988 Honda NSX | |
| Make | Bristol | Honda |
| Model | 408 | NSX |
| Year Released | 1965 | 1988 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 5130 cc | 2977 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 215 HP | 251 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 6800 RPM |
| Torque | 464 Nm | 288 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2800 RPM | 5300 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 98.6 mm | 90 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 84.1 mm | 78 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1585 kg | 1216 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4920 mm | 4320 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1740 mm | 1810 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1510 mm | 1180 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2510 mm |
