1978 Bristol 412 vs. 1991 Vauxhall Carlton
To start off, 1991 Vauxhall Carlton is newer by 13 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 57 more horse power than 1991 Vauxhall Carlton. (114 HP @ 5600 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1978 Bristol 412 should accelerate faster than 1991 Vauxhall Carlton. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Bristol 412 weights approximately 455 kg more than 1991 Vauxhall Carlton. 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 209 more torque (in Nm) than 1991 Vauxhall Carlton. (157 Nm @ 4600 RPM). This means 1978 Bristol 412 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1991 Vauxhall Carlton. 1978 Bristol 412 has automatic transmission and 1991 Vauxhall Carlton has manual transmission. 1991 Vauxhall Carlton will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Bristol 412 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Bristol 412 | 1991 Vauxhall Carlton | |
| Make | Bristol | Vauxhall |
| Model | 412 | Carlton |
| Year Released | 1978 | 1991 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5898 cc | 1796 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 171 HP | 114 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 5600 RPM |
| Torque | 366 Nm | 157 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 4600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1690 kg | 1235 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4950 mm | 4690 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1780 mm | 1780 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1450 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2740 mm |
