1978 Bristol 412 vs. 1973 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1978 Bristol 412 is newer by 5 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1973 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1973 Mercury Cougar 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 19 more horse power than 1973 Mercury Cougar. (152 HP @ 3600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1978 Bristol 412 should accelerate faster than 1973 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1973 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 344 kg more than 1978 Bristol 412.
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, 1973 Mercury Cougar (377 Nm @ 1800 RPM) has 11 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Bristol 412. (366 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 1973 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Bristol 412.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Bristol 412 | 1973 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | Bristol | Mercury |
| Model | 412 | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1973 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5898 cc | 5766 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 171 HP | 152 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Torque | 366 Nm | 377 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 1800 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 1690 kg | 2034 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4950 mm | 5480 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1780 mm | 2010 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2910 mm |
