1976 Bristol 603 vs. 2012 Ford Falcon
To start off, 2012 Ford Falcon is newer by 36 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, 2012 Ford Falcon (261 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 116 more horse power than 1976 Bristol 603. (145 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2012 Ford Falcon should accelerate faster than 1976 Bristol 603. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 Bristol 603 weights approximately 81 kg more than 2012 Ford Falcon.
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, 2012 Ford Falcon (391 Nm @ 3250 RPM) has 58 more torque (in Nm) than 1976 Bristol 603. (333 Nm @ 1600 RPM). This means 2012 Ford Falcon will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1976 Bristol 603.
Compare all specifications:
| 1976 Bristol 603 | 2012 Ford Falcon | |
| Make | Bristol | Ford |
| Model | 603 | Falcon |
| Year Released | 1976 | 2012 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5210 cc | 3983 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 145 HP | 261 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 333 Nm | 391 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1600 RPM | 3250 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.0:1 | 10.3:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | 6-speed automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1785 kg | 1704 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4920 mm | 4967 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1780 mm | 1868 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1433 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2838 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 81 L | 68 L |
