1965 Bristol 409 vs. 1980 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1980 Lotus Esprit is newer by 15 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 7 more horse power than 1980 Lotus Esprit. (208 HP @ 6250 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1965 Bristol 409 should accelerate faster than 1980 Lotus Esprit. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1965 Bristol 409 weights approximately 394 kg more than 1980 Lotus Esprit. 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 409 (463 Nm @ 2800 RPM) has 186 more torque (in Nm) than 1980 Lotus Esprit. (277 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1965 Bristol 409 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1980 Lotus Esprit. 1965 Bristol 409 has automatic transmission and 1980 Lotus Esprit has manual transmission. 1980 Lotus Esprit will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1965 Bristol 409 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1965 Bristol 409 | 1980 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Bristol | Lotus |
| Model | 409 | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1965 | 1980 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 5211 cc | 2172 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 215 HP | 208 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 6250 RPM |
| Torque | 463 Nm | 277 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2800 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 98.6 mm | 95.3 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 84.1 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1600 kg | 1206 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4920 mm | 4200 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1740 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1510 mm | 1120 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2450 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 81 L | 67 L |
