1949 Bristol 402 vs. 1954 Mercedes-Benz 190
To start off, 1954 Mercedes-Benz 190 is newer by 5 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1949 Bristol 402. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1949 Bristol 402 would be higher. At 1,971 cc (6 cylinders), 1949 Bristol 402 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1954 Mercedes-Benz 190 (106 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 21 more horse power than 1949 Bristol 402. (85 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1954 Mercedes-Benz 190 should accelerate faster than 1949 Bristol 402. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1949 Bristol 402 weights approximately 85 kg more than 1954 Mercedes-Benz 190.
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, 1954 Mercedes-Benz 190 (155 Nm @ 3800 RPM) has 10 more torque (in Nm) than 1949 Bristol 402. (145 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1954 Mercedes-Benz 190 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1949 Bristol 402.
Compare all specifications:
| 1949 Bristol 402 | 1954 Mercedes-Benz 190 | |
| Make | Bristol | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model | 402 | 190 |
| Year Released | 1949 | 1954 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1971 cc | 1895 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 85 HP | 106 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 145 Nm | 155 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 66 mm | 85 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 96 mm | 83.6 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 7.5:1 | 8.8:1 |
| 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 | 1140 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4870 mm | 4290 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1750 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1530 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2410 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 77 L | 64 L |
