1966 Bristol 409 vs. 1979 Ferrari 308
To start off, 1979 Ferrari 308 is newer by 13 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, 1979 Ferrari 308 (240 HP @ 7000 RPM) has 25 more horse power than 1966 Bristol 409. (215 HP @ 4400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1979 Ferrari 308 should accelerate faster than 1966 Bristol 409. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1966 Bristol 409 weights approximately 320 kg more than 1979 Ferrari 308.
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 203 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Ferrari 308. (260 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1966 Bristol 409 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Ferrari 308. 1966 Bristol 409 has automatic transmission and 1979 Ferrari 308 has manual transmission. 1979 Ferrari 308 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 | 1979 Ferrari 308 | |
| Make | Bristol | Ferrari |
| Model | 409 | 308 |
| Year Released | 1966 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 5211 cc | 2927 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 215 HP | 240 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 7000 RPM |
| Torque | 463 Nm | 260 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2800 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 98.6 mm | 81 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 84.1 mm | 71 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 9.2:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1600 kg | 1280 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4920 mm | 4390 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1740 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1510 mm | 1130 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2350 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 81 L | 74 L |
