1973 Bristol 411 vs. 1969 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1973 Bristol 411 is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1969 Lotus Elan. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1969 Lotus Elan would be higher. At 6,556 cc (8 cylinders), 1973 Bristol 411 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1973 Bristol 411 (264 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 156 more horse power than 1969 Lotus Elan. (108 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1973 Bristol 411 should accelerate faster than 1969 Lotus Elan. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1973 Bristol 411 weights approximately 1012 kg more than 1969 Lotus Elan. 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, 1973 Bristol 411 (455 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 308 more torque (in Nm) than 1969 Lotus Elan. (147 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1973 Bristol 411 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1969 Lotus Elan. 1973 Bristol 411 has automatic transmission and 1969 Lotus Elan has manual transmission. 1969 Lotus Elan will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1973 Bristol 411 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1973 Bristol 411 | 1969 Lotus Elan | |
| Make | Bristol | Lotus |
| Model | 411 | Elan |
| Year Released | 1973 | 1969 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 6556 cc | 1558 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 264 HP | 108 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 455 Nm | 147 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3600 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 110.3 mm | 82.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 85.7 mm | 72.8 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1712 kg | 700 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4910 mm | 3690 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1730 mm | 1430 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1470 mm | 1170 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2140 mm |
