1959 BMW 503 vs. 1951 Bristol 401
To start off, 1959 BMW 503 is newer by 8 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1951 Bristol 401. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1951 Bristol 401 would be higher. At 3,168 cc (8 cylinders), 1959 BMW 503 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1959 BMW 503 (139 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 67 more horse power than 1951 Bristol 401. (72 HP @ 4500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1959 BMW 503 should accelerate faster than 1951 Bristol 401. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1959 BMW 503 weights approximately 275 kg more than 1951 Bristol 401. 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, 1959 BMW 503 (222 Nm @ 2500 RPM) has 77 more torque (in Nm) than 1951 Bristol 401. (145 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1959 BMW 503 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1951 Bristol 401.
Compare all specifications:
1959 BMW 503 | 1951 Bristol 401 | |
Make | BMW | Bristol |
Model | 503 | 401 |
Year Released | 1959 | 1951 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 3168 cc | 1970 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
Engine Type | V | in-line |
Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
Horse Power | 139 HP | 72 HP |
Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 4500 RPM |
Torque | 222 Nm | 145 Nm |
Torque RPM | 2500 RPM | 3500 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 82 mm | 66 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 75 mm | 96 mm |
Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
Vehicle Weight | 1500 kg | 1225 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4760 mm | 4870 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1710 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1400 mm | 1530 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2900 mm |