1956 BMW 501 vs. 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial
To start off, 1956 BMW 501 is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial would be higher. At 3,166 cc (8 cylinders), 1956 BMW 501 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial (161 HP @ 7000 RPM) has 23 more horse power than 1956 BMW 501. (138 HP @ 4800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial should accelerate faster than 1956 BMW 501. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1956 BMW 501 weights approximately 655 kg more than 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial.
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:
| 1956 BMW 501 | 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial | |
| Make | BMW | Ferrari |
| Model | 501 | 500 Mondial |
| Year Released | 1956 | 1954 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3166 cc | 1985 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 138 HP | 161 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 7000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 82 mm | 90 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 75 mm | 78 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1405 kg | 750 kg |
| Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2260 mm |
