1950 Bristol 401 vs. 1960 Lotus Elite
To start off, 1960 Lotus Elite is newer by 10 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, 1950 Bristol 401 (72 HP @ 4500 RPM) has 1 more horse power than 1960 Lotus Elite. (71 HP @ 6100 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1950 Bristol 401 should accelerate faster than 1960 Lotus Elite. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1950 Bristol 401 weights approximately 643 kg more than 1960 Lotus Elite. 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, 1950 Bristol 401 (145 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 41 more torque (in Nm) than 1960 Lotus Elite. (104 Nm @ 3750 RPM). This means 1950 Bristol 401 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1960 Lotus Elite.
Compare all specifications:
| 1950 Bristol 401 | 1960 Lotus Elite | |
| Make | Bristol | Lotus |
| Model | 401 | Elite |
| Year Released | 1950 | 1960 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1971 cc | 1216 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 72 HP | 71 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 6100 RPM |
| Torque | 145 Nm | 104 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 3750 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 66 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 96 mm | 66.7 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 1225 kg | 582 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4870 mm | 3770 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1510 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1530 mm | 1200 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2240 mm |
