1965 Bristol 409 vs. 1979 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1979 Mercury Cougar is newer by 14 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1965 Bristol 409. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1965 Bristol 409 would be higher. At 5,211 cc (8 cylinders), 1965 Bristol 409 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1965 Bristol 409 (215 HP @ 4400 RPM) has 81 more horse power than 1979 Mercury Cougar. (134 HP @ 3400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1965 Bristol 409 should accelerate faster than 1979 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 255 kg more than 1965 Bristol 409.
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 409 (463 Nm @ 2800 RPM) has 127 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Mercury Cougar. (336 Nm @ 1600 RPM). This means 1965 Bristol 409 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Mercury Cougar.
Compare all specifications:
| 1965 Bristol 409 | 1979 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | Bristol | Mercury |
| Model | 409 | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1965 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5211 cc | 4942 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 215 HP | 134 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Torque | 463 Nm | 336 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2800 RPM | 1600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 1600 kg | 1855 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4920 mm | 5480 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1740 mm | 2010 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1510 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2910 mm |
