1948 Bristol 401 vs. 1988 Porsche 944
To start off, 1988 Porsche 944 is newer by 40 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 2,680 cc (4 cylinders), 1988 Porsche 944 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 Porsche 944 (162 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 77 more horse power than 1948 Bristol 401. (85 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1988 Porsche 944 should accelerate faster than 1948 Bristol 401.
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, 1988 Porsche 944 (225 Nm @ 4200 RPM) has 80 more torque (in Nm) than 1948 Bristol 401. (145 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1988 Porsche 944 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1948 Bristol 401. 1988 Porsche 944 has automatic transmission and 1948 Bristol 401 has manual transmission. 1948 Bristol 401 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1988 Porsche 944 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1948 Bristol 401 | 1988 Porsche 944 | |
| Make | Bristol | Porsche |
| Model | 401 | 944 |
| Year Released | 1948 | 1988 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1969 cc | 2680 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 85 HP | 162 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 145 Nm | 225 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 66 mm | 104 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 96 mm | 78.9 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 7.5:1 | 10.9:1 |
| Top Speed | 161 km/hour | 219 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Length | 4870 mm | 4200 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1530 mm | 1280 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2390 mm |
