1976 Bristol 412 vs. 1970 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1976 Bristol 412 is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 6,555 cc (8 cylinders), 1976 Bristol 412 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1976 Bristol 412 (208 HP @ 4400 RPM) has 41 more horse power than 1970 Mercury Cougar. (167 HP @ 4000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1976 Bristol 412 should accelerate faster than 1970 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 Bristol 412 weights approximately 60 kg more than 1970 Mercury Cougar. 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, 1976 Bristol 412 (422 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 59 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Mercury Cougar. (363 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1976 Bristol 412 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Mercury Cougar. 1976 Bristol 412 has automatic transmission and 1970 Mercury Cougar has manual transmission. 1970 Mercury Cougar will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1976 Bristol 412 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1976 Bristol 412 | 1970 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | Bristol | Mercury |
| Model | 412 | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1976 | 1970 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 6555 cc | 5769 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 208 HP | 167 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 422 Nm | 363 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1710 kg | 1650 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4950 mm | 5840 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1770 mm | 2000 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2860 mm |
