1952 Bristol 401 vs. 1983 Lotus Excel
To start off, 1983 Lotus Excel is newer by 31 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 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1983 Lotus Excel is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1983 Lotus Excel (160 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 88 more horse power than 1952 Bristol 401. (72 HP @ 4500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1983 Lotus Excel should accelerate faster than 1952 Bristol 401. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1952 Bristol 401 weights approximately 90 kg more than 1983 Lotus Excel.
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, 1983 Lotus Excel (218 Nm @ 5250 RPM) has 73 more torque (in Nm) than 1952 Bristol 401. (145 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1983 Lotus Excel will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1952 Bristol 401.
Compare all specifications:
| 1952 Bristol 401 | 1983 Lotus Excel | |
| Make | Bristol | Lotus |
| Model | 401 | Excel |
| Year Released | 1952 | 1983 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1971 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 72 HP | 160 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4500 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 145 Nm | 218 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 5250 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 66 mm | 95.3 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 96 mm | 76.2 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1225 kg | 1135 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4870 mm | 4380 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1820 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1530 mm | 1020 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2520 mm |
