1948 Bristol 401 vs. 1969 Lotus Elan
To start off, 1969 Lotus Elan is newer by 21 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1948 Bristol 401. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1948 Bristol 401 would be higher. At 1,969 cc (6 cylinders), 1948 Bristol 401 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1969 Lotus Elan (108 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 23 more horse power than 1948 Bristol 401. (85 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1969 Lotus Elan should accelerate faster than 1948 Bristol 401. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1948 Bristol 401 weights approximately 525 kg more than 1969 Lotus Elan.
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, 1969 Lotus Elan (147 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 2 more torque (in Nm) than 1948 Bristol 401. (145 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1969 Lotus Elan will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1948 Bristol 401.
Compare all specifications:
| 1948 Bristol 401 | 1969 Lotus Elan | |
| Make | Bristol | Lotus |
| Model | 401 | Elan |
| Year Released | 1948 | 1969 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1969 cc | 1558 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 85 HP | 108 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 145 Nm | 147 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 66 mm | 82.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 96 mm | 72.8 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 7.5:1 | 9.5:1 |
| Top Speed | 161 km/hour | 193 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1225 kg | 700 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4870 mm | 3690 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1430 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1530 mm | 1170 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2140 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 77 L | 45 L |
