1981 BMW 520 vs. 1951 Bristol 401
To start off, 1981 BMW 520 is newer by 30 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 1,991 cc (6 cylinders), 1981 BMW 520 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1981 BMW 520 (123 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 51 more horse power than 1951 Bristol 401. (72 HP @ 4500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1981 BMW 520 should accelerate faster than 1951 Bristol 401. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1951 Bristol 401 weights approximately 5 kg more than 1981 BMW 520.
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, 1981 BMW 520 (170 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 25 more torque (in Nm) than 1951 Bristol 401. (145 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1981 BMW 520 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1951 Bristol 401.
Compare all specifications:
1981 BMW 520 | 1951 Bristol 401 | |
Make | BMW | Bristol |
Model | 520 | 401 |
Year Released | 1981 | 1951 |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 1991 cc | 1970 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
Horse Power | 123 HP | 72 HP |
Engine RPM | 5800 RPM | 4500 RPM |
Torque | 170 Nm | 145 Nm |
Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 3500 RPM |
Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 66 mm |
Engine Stroke Size | 66 mm | 96 mm |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
Vehicle Weight | 1220 kg | 1225 kg |
Vehicle Length | 4630 mm | 4870 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1710 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1430 mm | 1530 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 2630 mm | 2900 mm |