1977 BMW 520 vs. 1952 Bristol 401
To start off, 1977 BMW 520 is newer by 25 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1952 Bristol 401. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1952 Bristol 401 would be higher. At 1,971 cc (6 cylinders), 1952 Bristol 401 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1977 BMW 520 (134 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 62 more horse power than 1952 Bristol 401. (72 HP @ 4500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1977 BMW 520 should accelerate faster than 1952 Bristol 401. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1977 BMW 520 weights approximately 340 kg more than 1952 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, 1977 BMW 520 (280 Nm @ 1750 RPM) has 135 more torque (in Nm) than 1952 Bristol 401. (145 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1977 BMW 520 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1952 Bristol 401.
Compare all specifications:
1977 BMW 520 | 1952 Bristol 401 | |
Make | BMW | Bristol |
Model | 520 | 401 |
Year Released | 1977 | 1952 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1951 cc | 1971 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
Horse Power | 134 HP | 72 HP |
Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 4500 RPM |
Torque | 280 Nm | 145 Nm |
Torque RPM | 1750 RPM | 3500 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 84 mm | 66 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 88 mm | 96 mm |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
Vehicle Weight | 1565 kg | 1225 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4780 mm | 4870 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1710 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1530 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2900 mm |