1976 BMW 3.3 vs. 1951 Bristol 401
To start off, 1976 BMW 3.3 is newer by 25 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 3,295 cc (6 cylinders), 1976 BMW 3.3 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1976 BMW 3.3 (194 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 122 more horse power than 1951 Bristol 401. (72 HP @ 4500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1976 BMW 3.3 should accelerate faster than 1951 Bristol 401. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 BMW 3.3 weights approximately 269 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, 1976 BMW 3.3 (285 Nm @ 4300 RPM) has 140 more torque (in Nm) than 1951 Bristol 401. (145 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1976 BMW 3.3 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1951 Bristol 401. 1976 BMW 3.3 has automatic transmission and 1951 Bristol 401 has manual transmission. 1951 Bristol 401 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1976 BMW 3.3 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
1976 BMW 3.3 | 1951 Bristol 401 | |
Make | BMW | Bristol |
Model | 3.3 | 401 |
Year Released | 1976 | 1951 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 3295 cc | 1970 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 194 HP | 72 HP |
Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 4500 RPM |
Torque | 285 Nm | 145 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4300 RPM | 3500 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 89 mm | 66 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 86 mm | 96 mm |
Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
Vehicle Weight | 1494 kg | 1225 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4810 mm | 4870 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1710 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1460 mm | 1530 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2800 mm | 2900 mm |