1949 Bristol 401 vs. 1994 Morgan 4
To start off, 1994 Morgan 4 is newer by 45 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1949 Bristol 401. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1949 Bristol 401 would be higher. At 1,971 cc (6 cylinders), 1949 Bristol 401 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1994 Morgan 4 (112 HP @ 5750 RPM) has 40 more horse power than 1949 Bristol 401. (72 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1994 Morgan 4 should accelerate faster than 1949 Bristol 401. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1949 Bristol 401 weights approximately 255 kg more than 1994 Morgan 4.
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, 1994 Morgan 4 (160 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 15 more torque (in Nm) than 1949 Bristol 401. (145 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1994 Morgan 4 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1949 Bristol 401.
Compare all specifications:
| 1949 Bristol 401 | 1994 Morgan 4 | |
| Make | Bristol | Morgan |
| Model | 401 | 4 |
| Year Released | 1949 | 1994 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1971 cc | 1796 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 72 HP | 112 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 5750 RPM |
| Torque | 145 Nm | 160 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 66 mm | 80.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 96 mm | 88 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 1225 kg | 970 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4870 mm | 4030 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1530 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1530 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2450 mm |
