1979 Bristol 412 vs. 1976 Lancia Beta
To start off, 1979 Bristol 412 is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1976 Lancia Beta. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1976 Lancia Beta would be higher. At 5,898 cc (8 cylinders), 1979 Bristol 412 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1979 Bristol 412 (171 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 53 more horse power than 1976 Lancia Beta. (118 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1979 Bristol 412 should accelerate faster than 1976 Lancia Beta. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1979 Bristol 412 weights approximately 650 kg more than 1976 Lancia Beta. 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, 1979 Bristol 412 (366 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 201 more torque (in Nm) than 1976 Lancia Beta. (165 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1979 Bristol 412 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1976 Lancia Beta. 1979 Bristol 412 has automatic transmission and 1976 Lancia Beta has manual transmission. 1976 Lancia Beta will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1979 Bristol 412 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1979 Bristol 412 | 1976 Lancia Beta | |
| Make | Bristol | Lancia |
| Model | 412 | Beta |
| Year Released | 1979 | 1976 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 5898 cc | 1999 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 171 HP | 118 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 366 Nm | 165 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.0:1 | 8.9:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1690 kg | 1040 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4950 mm | 3820 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1780 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1200 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2340 mm |
