1976 BMW 630 vs. 1978 Bristol 412
To start off, 1978 Bristol 412 is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1976 BMW 630. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1976 BMW 630 would be higher. At 5,898 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Bristol 412 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1976 BMW 630 (173 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 2 more horse power than 1978 Bristol 412. (171 HP @ 4000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1976 BMW 630 should accelerate faster than 1978 Bristol 412. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Bristol 412 weights approximately 232 kg more than 1976 BMW 630.
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, 1978 Bristol 412 (366 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 115 more torque (in Nm) than 1976 BMW 630. (251 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1978 Bristol 412 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1976 BMW 630.
Compare all specifications:
| 1976 BMW 630 | 1978 Bristol 412 | |
| Make | BMW | Bristol |
| Model | 630 | 412 |
| Year Released | 1976 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2986 cc | 5898 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 173 HP | 171 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 251 Nm | 366 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 89 mm | 101.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 80 mm | 90.9 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.0:1 | 8.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1458 kg | 1690 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4760 mm | 4950 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1780 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1390 mm | 1450 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2630 mm | 2910 mm |
