1950 Bristol 401 vs. 1959 Porsche 356
To start off, 1959 Porsche 356 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 1,971 cc (6 cylinders), 1950 Bristol 401 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1959 Porsche 356 (75 HP @ 5000 RPM) has 3 more horse power than 1950 Bristol 401. (72 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1959 Porsche 356 should accelerate faster than 1950 Bristol 401. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1950 Bristol 401 weights approximately 387 kg more than 1959 Porsche 356.
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, 1950 Bristol 401 (145 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 26 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Porsche 356. (119 Nm @ 3700 RPM). This means 1950 Bristol 401 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Porsche 356.
Compare all specifications:
1950 Bristol 401 | 1959 Porsche 356 | |
Make | Bristol | Porsche |
Model | 401 | 356 |
Year Released | 1950 | 1959 |
Engine Position | Front | Rear |
Engine Size | 1971 cc | 1582 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | boxer |
Horse Power | 72 HP | 75 HP |
Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 5000 RPM |
Torque | 145 Nm | 119 Nm |
Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 3700 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 66 mm | 82.5 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 96 mm | 74 mm |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Vehicle Weight | 1225 kg | 838 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4870 mm | 3960 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1670 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1530 mm | 1310 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2110 mm |