1980 Aston Martin V8 Vantage vs. 1979 Bristol 412
To start off, 1980 Aston Martin V8 Vantage is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1979 Bristol 412. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1979 Bristol 412 would be higher. At 5,898 cc (8 cylinders), 1979 Bristol 412 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1980 Aston Martin V8 Vantage (549 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 378 more horse power than 1979 Bristol 412. (171 HP @ 4000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1980 Aston Martin V8 Vantage should accelerate faster than 1979 Bristol 412. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1980 Aston Martin V8 Vantage weights approximately 300 kg more than 1979 Bristol 412. 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, 1980 Aston Martin V8 Vantage (745 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 379 more torque (in Nm) than 1979 Bristol 412. (366 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 1980 Aston Martin V8 Vantage will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1979 Bristol 412. 1979 Bristol 412 has automatic transmission and 1980 Aston Martin V8 Vantage has manual transmission. 1980 Aston Martin V8 Vantage 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:
| 1980 Aston Martin V8 Vantage | 1979 Bristol 412 | |
| Make | Aston Martin | Bristol |
| Model | V8 Vantage | 412 |
| Year Released | 1980 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5340 cc | 5898 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Horse Power | 549 HP | 171 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6500 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 745 Nm | 366 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1990 kg | 1690 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4610 mm | 4950 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1840 mm | 1780 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1450 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2620 mm | 2910 mm |
