1966 Bristol 409 vs. 2004 Caterham 7
To start off, 2004 Caterham 7 is newer by 38 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, 2004 Caterham 7 (251 HP @ 8000 RPM) has 36 more horse power than 1966 Bristol 409. (215 HP @ 4400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2004 Caterham 7 should accelerate faster than 1966 Bristol 409. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1966 Bristol 409 weights approximately 1130 kg more than 2004 Caterham 7.
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 205 more torque (in Nm) than 2004 Caterham 7. (258 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1966 Bristol 409 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2004 Caterham 7. 1966 Bristol 409 has automatic transmission and 2004 Caterham 7 has manual transmission. 2004 Caterham 7 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 | 2004 Caterham 7 | |
| Make | Bristol | Caterham |
| Model | 409 | 7 |
| Year Released | 1966 | 2004 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5211 cc | 1997 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 215 HP | 251 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 8000 RPM |
| Torque | 463 Nm | 258 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2800 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1600 kg | 470 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4920 mm | 3110 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1740 mm | 1580 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1510 mm | 810 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2230 mm |
