1978 Bristol 412 vs. 1970 Sunbeam Alpine
To start off, 1978 Bristol 412 is newer by 8 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Sunbeam Alpine. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Sunbeam Alpine 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 100 more horse power than 1970 Sunbeam Alpine. (71 HP @ 5000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1978 Bristol 412 should accelerate faster than 1970 Sunbeam Alpine. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Bristol 412 weights approximately 680 kg more than 1970 Sunbeam Alpine. 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 243 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Sunbeam Alpine. (123 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1978 Bristol 412 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Sunbeam Alpine. 1978 Bristol 412 has automatic transmission and 1970 Sunbeam Alpine has manual transmission. 1970 Sunbeam Alpine 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 | 1970 Sunbeam Alpine | |
| Make | Bristol | Sunbeam |
| Model | 412 | Alpine |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1970 |
| Engine Size | 5898 cc | 1725 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 171 HP | 71 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 366 Nm | 123 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 1690 kg | 1010 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4950 mm | 4430 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1780 mm | 1650 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1410 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2510 mm |
