1953 Bristol 403 vs. 2000 Caterham 7
To start off, 2000 Caterham 7 is newer by 47 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1953 Bristol 403. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1953 Bristol 403 would be higher. At 1,969 cc (6 cylinders), 1953 Bristol 403 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2000 Caterham 7 (230 HP @ 8600 RPM) has 144 more horse power than 1953 Bristol 403. (86 HP @ 5000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2000 Caterham 7 should accelerate faster than 1953 Bristol 403. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1953 Bristol 403 weights approximately 765 kg more than 2000 Caterham 7.
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, 2000 Caterham 7 (210 Nm @ 7200 RPM) has 64 more torque (in Nm) than 1953 Bristol 403. (146 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 2000 Caterham 7 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1953 Bristol 403.
Compare all specifications:
| 1953 Bristol 403 | 2000 Caterham 7 | |
| Make | Bristol | Caterham |
| Model | 403 | 7 |
| Year Released | 1953 | 2000 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1969 cc | 1795 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 86 HP | 230 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 8600 RPM |
| Torque | 146 Nm | 210 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 7200 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 66 mm | 80 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 96 mm | 89.3 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.5:1 | 11.5:1 |
| Top Speed | 164 km/hour | 235 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1225 kg | 460 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4870 mm | 3110 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1580 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1530 mm | 810 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2900 mm | 2230 mm |
