1978 Bristol 412 vs. 1978 Fiat 131
To start off, both 1978 Bristol 412 and 1978 Fiat 131 were released in the same year (1978). Therefore the support and the availability on parts for both vehicles should be relatively similar. 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 112 more horse power than 1978 Fiat 131. (59 HP @ 4400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1978 Bristol 412 should accelerate faster than 1978 Fiat 131. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Bristol 412 weights approximately 510 kg more than 1978 Fiat 131. 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 253 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Fiat 131. (113 Nm @ 2400 RPM). This means 1978 Bristol 412 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Fiat 131.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Bristol 412 | 1978 Fiat 131 | |
| Make | Bristol | Fiat |
| Model | 412 | 131 |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5898 cc | 1995 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 171 HP | 59 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 366 Nm | 113 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 101.6 mm | 88 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 90.9 mm | 82 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.0:1 | 22.0:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Diesel |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1690 kg | 1180 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4950 mm | 4270 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1780 mm | 1660 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1370 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2500 mm |
