1964 Bristol 408 vs. 1951 Mercedes-Benz 300S

To start off, 1964 Bristol 408 is newer by 13 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1951 Mercedes-Benz 300S. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1951 Mercedes-Benz 300S would be higher. At 5,130 cc (8 cylinders), 1964 Bristol 408 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1964 Bristol 408 (216 HP @ 4400 RPM) has 68 more horse power than 1951 Mercedes-Benz 300S. (148 HP @ 5000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1964 Bristol 408 should accelerate faster than 1951 Mercedes-Benz 300S. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1951 Mercedes-Benz 300S weights approximately 155 kg more than 1964 Bristol 408.

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, 1964 Bristol 408 (463 Nm @ 2800 RPM) has 233 more torque (in Nm) than 1951 Mercedes-Benz 300S. (230 Nm @ 3800 RPM). This means 1964 Bristol 408 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1951 Mercedes-Benz 300S. 1964 Bristol 408 has automatic transmission and 1951 Mercedes-Benz 300S has manual transmission. 1951 Mercedes-Benz 300S will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1964 Bristol 408 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.

Compare all specifications:

1964 Bristol 408 1951 Mercedes-Benz 300S
Make Bristol Mercedes-Benz
Model 408 300S
Year Released 1964 1951
Engine Position Front Front
Engine Size 5130 cc 2996 cc
Engine Cylinders 8 cylinders 6 cylinders
Engine Type in-line in-line
Horse Power 216 HP 148 HP
Engine RPM 4400 RPM 5000 RPM
Torque 463 Nm 230 Nm
Torque RPM 2800 RPM 3800 RPM
Engine Bore Size 98.6 mm 85 mm
Engine Stroke Size 84.1 mm 88 mm
Engine Compression Ratio 9.0:1 7.8:1
Drive Type Rear Rear
Transmission Type Automatic Manual
Number of Seats 4 seats 4 seats
Number of Doors 2 doors 2 doors
Vehicle Weight 1585 kg 1740 kg
Vehicle Length 4920 mm 4740 mm
Vehicle Width 1740 mm 1920 mm
Vehicle Height 1510 mm 1520 mm
Wheelbase Size 2910 mm 2910 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 81 L 85 L