1951 Bristol 401 vs. 1987 Mercedes-Benz 300
To start off, 1987 Mercedes-Benz 300 is newer by 36 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 2,962 cc (6 cylinders), 1987 Mercedes-Benz 300 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1987 Mercedes-Benz 300 (185 HP @ 5700 RPM) has 113 more horse power than 1951 Bristol 401. (72 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1987 Mercedes-Benz 300 should accelerate faster than 1951 Bristol 401. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1987 Mercedes-Benz 300 weights approximately 165 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, 1987 Mercedes-Benz 300 (260 Nm @ 4400 RPM) has 115 more torque (in Nm) than 1951 Bristol 401. (145 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1987 Mercedes-Benz 300 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1951 Bristol 401. 1987 Mercedes-Benz 300 has automatic transmission and 1951 Bristol 401 has manual transmission. 1951 Bristol 401 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1987 Mercedes-Benz 300 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1951 Bristol 401 | 1987 Mercedes-Benz 300 | |
| Make | Bristol | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model | 401 | 300 |
| Year Released | 1951 | 1987 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1970 cc | 2962 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 72 HP | 185 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 5700 RPM |
| Torque | 145 Nm | 260 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 66 mm | 88.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 96 mm | 80.3 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1225 kg | 1390 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4870 mm | 4660 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1750 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1530 mm | 1420 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2720 mm |
