1950 Bristol 401 vs. 1959 Jensen 541
To start off, 1959 Jensen 541 is newer by 9 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1950 Bristol 401. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1950 Bristol 401 would be higher. At 3,993 cc (6 cylinders), 1959 Jensen 541 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1959 Jensen 541 (129 HP @ 4100 RPM) has 57 more horse power than 1950 Bristol 401. (72 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1959 Jensen 541 should accelerate faster than 1950 Bristol 401. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1959 Jensen 541 weights approximately 250 kg more than 1950 Bristol 401. 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, 1959 Jensen 541 (310 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 165 more torque (in Nm) than 1950 Bristol 401. (145 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1959 Jensen 541 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1950 Bristol 401.
Compare all specifications:
| 1950 Bristol 401 | 1959 Jensen 541 | |
| Make | Bristol | Jensen |
| Model | 401 | 541 |
| Year Released | 1950 | 1959 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1971 cc | 3993 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 72 HP | 129 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 4100 RPM |
| Torque | 145 Nm | 310 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 66 mm | 87.3 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 96 mm | 111.1 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 1225 kg | 1475 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4870 mm | 4480 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1610 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1530 mm | 1360 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2670 mm |
