1966 Bristol 409 vs. 1985 Vauxhall Carlton
To start off, 1985 Vauxhall Carlton is newer by 19 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 126 more horse power than 1985 Vauxhall Carlton. (89 HP @ 5400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1966 Bristol 409 should accelerate faster than 1985 Vauxhall Carlton. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1966 Bristol 409 weights approximately 450 kg more than 1985 Vauxhall Carlton. 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 320 more torque (in Nm) than 1985 Vauxhall Carlton. (143 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1966 Bristol 409 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1985 Vauxhall Carlton. 1966 Bristol 409 has automatic transmission and 1985 Vauxhall Carlton has manual transmission. 1985 Vauxhall Carlton 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 | 1985 Vauxhall Carlton | |
| Make | Bristol | Vauxhall |
| Model | 409 | Carlton |
| Year Released | 1966 | 1985 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5211 cc | 1794 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 215 HP | 89 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 5400 RPM |
| Torque | 463 Nm | 143 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2800 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1600 kg | 1150 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4920 mm | 4690 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1740 mm | 1740 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1510 mm | 1480 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2680 mm |
