1978 Bristol 412 vs. 2005 Porsche 911
To start off, 2005 Porsche 911 is newer by 27 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, 2005 Porsche 911 (414 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 243 more horse power than 1978 Bristol 412. (171 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2005 Porsche 911 should accelerate faster than 1978 Bristol 412. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Bristol 412 weights approximately 310 kg more than 2005 Porsche 911.
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, 2005 Porsche 911 (560 Nm @ 2700 RPM) has 194 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Bristol 412. (366 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 2005 Porsche 911 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Bristol 412.
Compare all specifications:
| 1978 Bristol 412 | 2005 Porsche 911 | |
| Make | Bristol | Porsche |
| Model | 412 | 911 |
| Year Released | 1978 | 2005 |
| Engine Position | Front | Rear |
| Engine Size | 5898 cc | 3596 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | boxer |
| Horse Power | 171 HP | 414 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 366 Nm | 560 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 2700 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.0:1 | 9.4:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Automatic |
| Vehicle Weight | 1690 kg | 1380 kg |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2360 mm |
