1966 Bristol 409 vs. 1958 Ford 12 M
To start off, 1966 Bristol 409 is newer by 8 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1958 Ford 12 M. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1958 Ford 12 M 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 178 more horse power than 1958 Ford 12 M. (37 HP @ 4250 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1966 Bristol 409 should accelerate faster than 1958 Ford 12 M.
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. 1966 Bristol 409 has automatic transmission and 1958 Ford 12 M has manual transmission. 1958 Ford 12 M 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 | 1958 Ford 12 M | |
| Make | Bristol | Ford |
| Model | 409 | 12 M |
| Year Released | 1966 | 1958 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5211 cc | 1172 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 215 HP | 37 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 4250 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Length | 4920 mm | 4070 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1740 mm | 1590 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1510 mm | 1620 mm |
