1952 BMW 501 vs. 1978 Mazda 626
To start off, 1978 Mazda 626 is newer by 26 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, 1978 Mazda 626 (93 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 21 more horse power than 1952 BMW 501. (72 HP @ 4400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Mazda 626 should accelerate faster than 1952 BMW 501. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1952 BMW 501 weights approximately 290 kg more than 1978 Mazda 626.
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 | 1978 Mazda 626 | |
| Make | BMW | Mazda |
| Model | 501 | 626 |
| Year Released | 1952 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1971 cc | 1768 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 72 HP | 93 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 66 mm | 80 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 96 mm | 88 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1285 kg | 995 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4810 mm | 4310 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1670 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1560 mm | 1380 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2520 mm |
