1955 Aston Martin DB3 vs. 1958 BMW 501
To start off, 1958 BMW 501 is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1955 Aston Martin DB3. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1955 Aston Martin DB3 would be higher. At 3,168 cc (8 cylinders), 1958 BMW 501 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, both vehicles can yield 138 horse power. So under normal driving conditions, the acceleration of both vehicles should be relatively similar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1958 BMW 501 weights approximately 400 kg more than 1955 Aston Martin DB3.
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, 1955 Aston Martin DB3 (244 Nm @ 5500 RPM) has 22 more torque (in Nm) than 1958 BMW 501. (222 Nm @ 2500 RPM). This means 1955 Aston Martin DB3 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1958 BMW 501.
Compare all specifications:
| 1955 Aston Martin DB3 | 1958 BMW 501 | |
| Make | Aston Martin | BMW |
| Model | DB3 | 501 |
| Year Released | 1955 | 1958 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2922 cc | 3168 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 138 HP | 138 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Torque | 244 Nm | 222 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 5500 RPM | 2500 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 4 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1005 kg | 1405 kg |
| Vehicle Width | 1510 mm | 1790 mm |
