1978 Bristol 412 vs. 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300
To start off, 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300 is newer by 12 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, 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300 (188 HP @ 5700 RPM) has 17 more horse power than 1978 Bristol 412. (171 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300 should accelerate faster than 1978 Bristol 412. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Bristol 412 weights approximately 170 kg more than 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300.
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 106 more torque (in Nm) than 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300. (260 Nm @ 4800 RPM). This means 1978 Bristol 412 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Bristol 412 | 1990 Mercedes-Benz 300 | |
| Make | Bristol | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model | 412 | 300 |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1990 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5898 cc | 2962 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 171 HP | 188 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 5700 RPM |
| Torque | 366 Nm | 260 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 101.6 mm | 88.5 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 90.9 mm | 80.3 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.0:1 | 10.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1690 kg | 1520 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4950 mm | 5030 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1780 mm | 1830 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1440 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2940 mm |
