1978 Bristol 412 vs. 1981 Fiat 131
To start off, 1981 Fiat 131 is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Bristol 412. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Bristol 412 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 60 more horse power than 1981 Fiat 131. (111 HP @ 5600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1978 Bristol 412 should accelerate faster than 1981 Fiat 131. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Bristol 412 weights approximately 585 kg more than 1981 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 199 more torque (in Nm) than 1981 Fiat 131. (167 Nm @ 3600 RPM). This means 1978 Bristol 412 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1981 Fiat 131.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Bristol 412 | 1981 Fiat 131 | |
| Make | Bristol | Fiat |
| Model | 412 | 131 |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1981 |
| 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 | 111 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 5600 RPM |
| Torque | 366 Nm | 167 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1690 kg | 1105 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4950 mm | 4270 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1780 mm | 1660 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2500 mm |
