1952 BMW 501 vs. 1978 Porsche 936
To start off, 1978 Porsche 936 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 2,142 cc (6 cylinders), 1978 Porsche 936 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Porsche 936 (573 HP @ 8500 RPM) has 501 more horse power than 1952 BMW 501. (72 HP @ 4400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Porsche 936 should accelerate faster than 1952 BMW 501. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1952 BMW 501 weights approximately 585 kg more than 1978 Porsche 936.
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 Porsche 936 | |
| Make | BMW | Porsche |
| Model | 501 | 936 |
| Year Released | 1952 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1971 cc | 2142 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 72 HP | 573 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 8500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 1285 kg | 700 kg |
