1953 Bristol 403 vs. 1949 Bristol 400
To start off, 1953 Bristol 403 is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1949 Bristol 400. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1949 Bristol 400 would be higher. At 1,971 cc (6 cylinders), 1949 Bristol 400 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1953 Bristol 403 (86 HP @ 5000 RPM) has 7 more horse power than 1949 Bristol 400. (79 HP @ 4200 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1953 Bristol 403 should accelerate faster than 1949 Bristol 400. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1953 Bristol 403 weights approximately 55 kg more than 1949 Bristol 400. 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, 1953 Bristol 403 (146 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 21 more torque (in Nm) than 1949 Bristol 400. (125 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1953 Bristol 403 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1949 Bristol 400.
Compare all specifications:
| 1953 Bristol 403 | 1949 Bristol 400 | |
| Make | Bristol | Bristol |
| Model | 403 | 400 |
| Year Released | 1953 | 1949 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1969 cc | 1971 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 86 HP | 79 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Torque | 146 Nm | 125 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 3000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 66 mm | 66 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 96 mm | 96 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1225 kg | 1170 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4870 mm | 4650 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1630 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1530 mm | 1510 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2900 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 77 L | 54 L |
