1978 Bristol 412 vs. 1966 Ford Zephyr
To start off, 1978 Bristol 412 is newer by 12 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1966 Ford Zephyr. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1966 Ford Zephyr would be higher. At 5,898 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Bristol 412 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Bristol 412 (171 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 58 more horse power than 1966 Ford Zephyr. (113 HP @ 4750 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1978 Bristol 412 should accelerate faster than 1966 Ford Zephyr. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Bristol 412 weights approximately 390 kg more than 1966 Ford Zephyr. 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, 1978 Bristol 412 (366 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 168 more torque (in Nm) than 1966 Ford Zephyr. (198 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1978 Bristol 412 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1966 Ford Zephyr. 1978 Bristol 412 has automatic transmission and 1966 Ford Zephyr has manual transmission. 1966 Ford Zephyr will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Bristol 412 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Bristol 412 | 1966 Ford Zephyr | |
| Make | Bristol | Ford |
| Model | 412 | Zephyr |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1966 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5898 cc | 2553 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Horse Power | 171 HP | 113 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 4750 RPM |
| Torque | 366 Nm | 198 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 101.6 mm | 93.7 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 90.9 mm | 60.4 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1690 kg | 1300 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4950 mm | 4710 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1780 mm | 1820 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1490 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2940 mm |
