1978 Bristol 412 vs. 1988 Ford Crown Victoria
To start off, 1988 Ford Crown Victoria is newer by 10 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 23 more horse power than 1988 Ford Crown Victoria. (148 HP @ 3200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1978 Bristol 412 should accelerate faster than 1988 Ford Crown Victoria. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 Ford Crown Victoria weights approximately 10 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, both vehicles can yield 366 Nm of torque. So under normal driving conditions, the ability to climb up hills and pull heavy equipment should be relatively similar for both vehicles.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Bristol 412 | 1988 Ford Crown Victoria | |
| Make | Bristol | Ford |
| Model | 412 | Crown Victoria |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1988 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5898 cc | 4942 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 171 HP | 148 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 3200 RPM |
| Torque | 366 Nm | 366 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1690 kg | 1700 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4950 mm | 5320 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1780 mm | 1980 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2910 mm |
