1966 Bristol 409 vs. 1972 Ford Cortina
To start off, 1972 Ford Cortina is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1966 Bristol 409. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1966 Bristol 409 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 159 more horse power than 1972 Ford Cortina. (56 HP @ 5500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1966 Bristol 409 should accelerate faster than 1972 Ford Cortina. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1966 Bristol 409 weights approximately 556 kg more than 1972 Ford Cortina. 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 372 more torque (in Nm) than 1972 Ford Cortina. (91 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1966 Bristol 409 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1972 Ford Cortina. 1966 Bristol 409 has automatic transmission and 1972 Ford Cortina has manual transmission. 1972 Ford Cortina 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 | 1972 Ford Cortina | |
| Make | Bristol | Ford |
| Model | 409 | Cortina |
| Year Released | 1966 | 1972 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5211 cc | 1298 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 215 HP | 56 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 463 Nm | 91 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2800 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 98.6 mm | 81 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 84.1 mm | 63 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1600 kg | 1044 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4920 mm | 4280 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1740 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1510 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2590 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 81 L | 87 L |
