2003 BMW 530 vs. 1965 Bristol 408
To start off, 2003 BMW 530 is newer by 38 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1965 Bristol 408. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1965 Bristol 408 would be higher. At 5,130 cc (8 cylinders), 1965 Bristol 408 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2003 BMW 530 (227 HP @ 5900 RPM) has 12 more horse power than 1965 Bristol 408. (215 HP @ 4400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2003 BMW 530 should accelerate faster than 1965 Bristol 408. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1965 Bristol 408 weights approximately 13 kg more than 2003 BMW 530.
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, 1965 Bristol 408 (464 Nm @ 2800 RPM) has 164 more torque (in Nm) than 2003 BMW 530. (300 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 1965 Bristol 408 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2003 BMW 530. 1965 Bristol 408 has automatic transmission and 2003 BMW 530 has manual transmission. 2003 BMW 530 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1965 Bristol 408 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 2003 BMW 530 | 1965 Bristol 408 | |
| Make | BMW | Bristol |
| Model | 530 | 408 |
| Year Released | 2003 | 1965 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2979 cc | 5130 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 227 HP | 215 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5900 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Torque | 300 Nm | 464 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3500 RPM | 2800 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 84 mm | 98.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 89.6 mm | 84.1 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1572 kg | 1585 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4850 mm | 4920 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1850 mm | 1740 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1470 mm | 1510 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2890 mm | 2910 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 81 L |
