1976 Bristol 603 vs. 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300
To start off, 1976 Bristol 603 is newer by 21 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 would be higher. At 5,210 cc (8 cylinders), 1976 Bristol 603 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 (215 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 70 more horse power than 1976 Bristol 603. (145 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 should accelerate faster than 1976 Bristol 603. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 Bristol 603 weights approximately 492 kg more than 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300.
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 Bristol 603 (333 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 58 more torque (in Nm) than 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300. (275 Nm @ 4600 RPM). This means 1976 Bristol 603 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300. 1976 Bristol 603 has automatic transmission and 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 has manual transmission. 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1976 Bristol 603 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1976 Bristol 603 | 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 | |
| Make | Bristol | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model | 603 | 300 |
| Year Released | 1976 | 1955 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5210 cc | 2996 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 145 HP | 215 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 333 Nm | 275 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1600 RPM | 4600 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.0:1 | 8.6:1 |
| Top Speed | 225 km/hour | 217 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1785 kg | 1293 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4920 mm | 4530 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1780 mm | 1800 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1310 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2910 mm | 2410 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 81 L | 100 L |
