1952 Bristol 401 vs. 1972 Porsche 911
To start off, 1972 Porsche 911 is newer by 20 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1952 Bristol 401. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1952 Bristol 401 would be higher. At 2,341 cc (6 cylinders), 1972 Porsche 911 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1972 Porsche 911 (131 HP @ 5600 RPM) has 59 more horse power than 1952 Bristol 401. (72 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1972 Porsche 911 should accelerate faster than 1952 Bristol 401. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1952 Bristol 401 weights approximately 148 kg more than 1972 Porsche 911.
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, 1972 Porsche 911 (197 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 52 more torque (in Nm) than 1952 Bristol 401. (145 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1972 Porsche 911 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1952 Bristol 401.
Compare all specifications:
| 1952 Bristol 401 | 1972 Porsche 911 | |
| Make | Bristol | Porsche |
| Model | 401 | 911 |
| Year Released | 1952 | 1972 |
| Engine Position | Front | Rear |
| Engine Size | 1971 cc | 2341 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | boxer |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 72 HP | 131 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 5600 RPM |
| Torque | 145 Nm | 197 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 66 mm | 84 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 96 mm | 70.4 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1225 kg | 1077 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4870 mm | 4150 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1620 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1530 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2270 mm |
