1952 Austin A 40 vs. 1976 Bristol 603
To start off, 1976 Bristol 603 is newer by 24 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1952 Austin A 40. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1952 Austin A 40 would be higher. At 5,210 cc (8 cylinders), 1976 Bristol 603 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1976 Bristol 603 (145 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 107 more horse power than 1952 Austin A 40. (38 HP @ 4300 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1976 Bristol 603 should accelerate faster than 1952 Austin A 40. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 Bristol 603 weights approximately 813 kg more than 1952 Austin A 40. 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 Bristol 603 (333 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 253 more torque (in Nm) than 1952 Austin A 40. (80 Nm @ 2300 RPM). This means 1976 Bristol 603 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1952 Austin A 40.
Compare all specifications:
| 1952 Austin A 40 | 1976 Bristol 603 | |
| Make | Austin | Bristol |
| Model | A 40 | 603 |
| Year Released | 1952 | 1976 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1200 cc | 5210 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 38 HP | 145 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4300 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 80 Nm | 333 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2300 RPM | 1600 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 972 kg | 1785 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3890 mm | 4920 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1560 mm | 1780 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1620 mm | 1450 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2360 mm | 2910 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 48 L | 81 L |
