1951 Bristol 401 vs. 1959 Ford 17M
To start off, 1959 Ford 17M is newer by 8 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1951 Bristol 401. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1951 Bristol 401 would be higher. At 1,970 cc (6 cylinders), 1951 Bristol 401 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1951 Bristol 401 (72 HP @ 4500 RPM) has 13 more horse power than 1959 Ford 17M. (59 HP @ 4250 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1951 Bristol 401 should accelerate faster than 1959 Ford 17M. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1951 Bristol 401 weights approximately 110 kg more than 1959 Ford 17M. 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, 1951 Bristol 401 (145 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 25 more torque (in Nm) than 1959 Ford 17M. (120 Nm @ 2200 RPM). This means 1951 Bristol 401 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1959 Ford 17M.
Compare all specifications:
| 1951 Bristol 401 | 1959 Ford 17M | |
| Make | Bristol | Ford |
| Model | 401 | 17M |
| Year Released | 1951 | 1959 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1970 cc | 1697 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 72 HP | 59 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 4250 RPM |
| Torque | 145 Nm | 120 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 2200 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 66 mm | 84 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 96 mm | 76.6 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1225 kg | 1115 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4870 mm | 4380 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1680 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1530 mm | 1510 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2610 mm |
