1976 Bristol 603 vs. 1979 Ford Fairlane
To start off, 1979 Ford Fairlane is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1976 Bristol 603. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1976 Bristol 603 would be higher. At 5,210 cc (8 cylinders), 1976 Bristol 603 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1979 Ford Fairlane (185 HP @ 4500 RPM) has 40 more horse power than 1976 Bristol 603. (145 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1979 Ford Fairlane should accelerate faster than 1976 Bristol 603. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 Bristol 603 weights approximately 355 kg more than 1979 Ford Fairlane.
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, 1979 Ford Fairlane (344 Nm @ 3200 RPM) has 11 more torque (in Nm) than 1976 Bristol 603. (333 Nm @ 1600 RPM). This means 1979 Ford Fairlane will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1976 Bristol 603.
Compare all specifications:
| 1976 Bristol 603 | 1979 Ford Fairlane | |
| Make | Bristol | Ford |
| Model | 603 | Fairlane |
| Year Released | 1976 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5210 cc | 4940 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 145 HP | 185 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Torque | 333 Nm | 344 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1600 RPM | 3200 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1785 kg | 1430 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4920 mm | 5020 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1780 mm | 1870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2950 mm |
