1956 BMW 501 vs. 1957 Bristol 405
To start off, 1957 Bristol 405 is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1956 BMW 501. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1956 BMW 501 would be higher. At 3,166 cc (8 cylinders), 1956 BMW 501 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1956 BMW 501 (138 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 38 more horse power than 1957 Bristol 405. (100 HP @ 5000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1956 BMW 501 should accelerate faster than 1957 Bristol 405. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1956 BMW 501 weights approximately 165 kg more than 1957 Bristol 405. 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, 1956 BMW 501 (222 Nm @ 2500 RPM) has 70 more torque (in Nm) than 1957 Bristol 405. (152 Nm @ 3750 RPM). This means 1956 BMW 501 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1957 Bristol 405.
Compare all specifications:
1956 BMW 501 | 1957 Bristol 405 | |
Make | BMW | Bristol |
Model | 501 | 405 |
Year Released | 1956 | 1957 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 3166 cc | 1971 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
Horse Power | 138 HP | 100 HP |
Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 5000 RPM |
Torque | 222 Nm | 152 Nm |
Torque RPM | 2500 RPM | 3750 RPM |
Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
Vehicle Weight | 1405 kg | 1240 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4740 mm | 4820 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1790 mm | 1730 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1540 mm | 1470 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2900 mm |