1996 BMW 540 vs. 1950 Bristol 401
To start off, 1996 BMW 540 is newer by 46 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1950 Bristol 401. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1950 Bristol 401 would be higher. At 4,396 cc (8 cylinders), 1996 BMW 540 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1996 BMW 540 (282 HP @ 5400 RPM) has 210 more horse power than 1950 Bristol 401. (72 HP @ 4500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1996 BMW 540 should accelerate faster than 1950 Bristol 401. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1996 BMW 540 weights approximately 620 kg more than 1950 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, 1996 BMW 540 (440 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 295 more torque (in Nm) than 1950 Bristol 401. (145 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1996 BMW 540 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1950 Bristol 401. 1996 BMW 540 has automatic transmission and 1950 Bristol 401 has manual transmission. 1950 Bristol 401 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1996 BMW 540 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1996 BMW 540 | 1950 Bristol 401 | |
| Make | BMW | Bristol |
| Model | 540 | 401 |
| Year Released | 1996 | 1950 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4396 cc | 1971 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 282 HP | 72 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5400 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Torque | 440 Nm | 145 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3600 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 92 mm | 66 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 82.7 mm | 96 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 1845 kg | 1225 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4810 mm | 4870 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1710 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1530 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2900 mm |
