1976 Bristol 603 vs. 1984 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1984 Lotus Esprit is newer by 8 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, 1984 Lotus Esprit (158 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 13 more horse power than 1976 Bristol 603. (145 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1984 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1976 Bristol 603. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 Bristol 603 weights approximately 718 kg more than 1984 Lotus Esprit.
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 603 (333 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 116 more torque (in Nm) than 1984 Lotus Esprit. (217 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1976 Bristol 603 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1984 Lotus Esprit. 1976 Bristol 603 has automatic transmission and 1984 Lotus Esprit has manual transmission. 1984 Lotus Esprit will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1976 Bristol 603 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1976 Bristol 603 | 1984 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Bristol | Lotus |
| Model | 603 | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1976 | 1984 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 5210 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 145 HP | 158 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 333 Nm | 217 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1600 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.0:1 | 9.5:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1785 kg | 1067 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4920 mm | 4200 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1780 mm | 1860 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1120 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2490 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 81 L | 31 L |
