2008 BMW 540 vs. 1953 Bristol 403
To start off, 2008 BMW 540 is newer by 55 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1953 Bristol 403. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1953 Bristol 403 would be higher. At 4,398 cc, 2008 BMW 540 is equipped with a bigger engine. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2008 BMW 540 weights approximately 510 kg more than 1953 Bristol 403.
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, 2008 BMW 540 (440 Nm @ 3600 RPM) has 294 more torque (in Nm) than 1953 Bristol 403. (146 Nm @ 3500 RPM). This means 2008 BMW 540 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1953 Bristol 403. 2008 BMW 540 has automatic transmission and 1953 Bristol 403 has manual transmission. 1953 Bristol 403 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2008 BMW 540 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 2008 BMW 540 | 1953 Bristol 403 | |
| Make | BMW | Bristol |
| Model | 540 | 403 |
| Year Released | 2008 | 1953 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4398 cc | 1969 cc |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 0 HP | 86 HP |
| Torque | 440 Nm | 146 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3600 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 92 mm | 66 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 82.7 mm | 96 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.0:1 | 8.5:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Top Speed | 250 km/hour | 164 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1735 kg | 1225 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5050 mm | 4870 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1530 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2900 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 77 L |
