1952 BMW 501 vs. 1959 Riley One-Point-Five
To start off, 1959 Riley One-Point-Five is newer by 7 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1952 BMW 501. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1952 BMW 501 would be higher. At 1,971 cc (6 cylinders), 1952 BMW 501 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1952 BMW 501 (72 HP @ 4400 RPM) has 10 more horse power than 1959 Riley One-Point-Five. (62 HP @ 4500 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1952 BMW 501 should accelerate faster than 1959 Riley One-Point-Five. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1952 BMW 501 weights approximately 350 kg more than 1959 Riley One-Point-Five. 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.
Compare all specifications:
| 1952 BMW 501 | 1959 Riley One-Point-Five | |
| Make | BMW | Riley |
| Model | 501 | One-Point-Five |
| Year Released | 1952 | 1959 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1971 cc | 1489 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 72 HP | 62 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 66 mm | 73 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 96 mm | 88.9 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1285 kg | 935 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4810 mm | 3890 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1560 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1560 mm | 1530 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2190 mm |
