1951 Bristol 401 vs. 1976 Mercedes-Benz 280
To start off, 1976 Mercedes-Benz 280 is newer by 25 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 2,746 cc (6 cylinders), 1976 Mercedes-Benz 280 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1976 Mercedes-Benz 280 (174 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 102 more horse power than 1951 Bristol 401. (72 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1976 Mercedes-Benz 280 should accelerate faster than 1951 Bristol 401. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 Mercedes-Benz 280 weights approximately 335 kg more than 1951 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, 1976 Mercedes-Benz 280 (233 Nm @ 4500 RPM) has 88 more torque (in Nm) than 1951 Bristol 401. (145 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1976 Mercedes-Benz 280 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1951 Bristol 401.
Compare all specifications:
1951 Bristol 401 | 1976 Mercedes-Benz 280 | |
Make | Bristol | Mercedes-Benz |
Model | 401 | 280 |
Year Released | 1951 | 1976 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1970 cc | 2746 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 72 HP | 174 HP |
Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 6000 RPM |
Torque | 145 Nm | 233 Nm |
Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 4500 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 66 mm | 86.1 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 96 mm | 78.8 mm |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
Vehicle Weight | 1225 kg | 1560 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4870 mm | 4760 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1800 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1530 mm | 1340 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2830 mm |