1966 Bristol 409 vs. 1948 Bristol 400
To start off, 1966 Bristol 409 is newer by 18 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1948 Bristol 400. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1948 Bristol 400 would be higher. At 5,211 cc (8 cylinders), 1966 Bristol 409 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1966 Bristol 409 (215 HP @ 4400 RPM) has 136 more horse power than 1948 Bristol 400. (79 HP @ 4200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1966 Bristol 409 should accelerate faster than 1948 Bristol 400. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1966 Bristol 409 weights approximately 430 kg more than 1948 Bristol 400. 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, 1966 Bristol 409 (463 Nm @ 2800 RPM) has 338 more torque (in Nm) than 1948 Bristol 400. (125 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1966 Bristol 409 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1948 Bristol 400. 1966 Bristol 409 has automatic transmission and 1948 Bristol 400 has manual transmission. 1948 Bristol 400 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1966 Bristol 409 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1966 Bristol 409 | 1948 Bristol 400 | |
| Make | Bristol | Bristol |
| Model | 409 | 400 |
| Year Released | 1966 | 1948 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5211 cc | 1970 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 215 HP | 79 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Torque | 463 Nm | 125 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2800 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 98.6 mm | 66 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 84.1 mm | 96 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1600 kg | 1170 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4920 mm | 4650 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1740 mm | 1630 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1510 mm | 1510 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2900 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 81 L | 54 L |
