1955 Chevrolet Bel Air vs. 1951 Ferrari 375 Indy
To start off, 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1951 Ferrari 375 Indy. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1951 Ferrari 375 Indy would be higher. At 4,493 cc (12 cylinders), 1951 Ferrari 375 Indy is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1951 Ferrari 375 Indy (346 HP @ 7000 RPM) has 198 more horse power than 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air. (148 HP @ 4400 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1951 Ferrari 375 Indy should accelerate faster than 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air weights approximately 830 kg more than 1951 Ferrari 375 Indy.
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. 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air has automatic transmission and 1951 Ferrari 375 Indy has manual transmission. 1951 Ferrari 375 Indy will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air | 1951 Ferrari 375 Indy | |
| Make | Chevrolet | Ferrari |
| Model | Bel Air | 375 Indy |
| Year Released | 1955 | 1951 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4343 cc | 4493 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 12 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 148 HP | 346 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 7000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 1550 kg | 720 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4980 mm | 3940 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1890 mm | 1430 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1690 mm | 970 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2930 mm | 2330 mm |
