1956 BMW 501 vs. 1958 Ferrari 500 Testarossa
To start off, 1958 Ferrari 500 Testarossa is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1956 BMW 501. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1956 BMW 501 would be higher. At 3,166 cc (8 cylinders), 1956 BMW 501 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1958 Ferrari 500 Testarossa (190 HP @ 7000 RPM) has 52 more horse power than 1956 BMW 501. (138 HP @ 4800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1958 Ferrari 500 Testarossa should accelerate faster than 1956 BMW 501. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1956 BMW 501 weights approximately 721 kg more than 1958 Ferrari 500 Testarossa.
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, 1956 BMW 501 (222 Nm @ 2500 RPM) has 17 more torque (in Nm) than 1958 Ferrari 500 Testarossa. (205 Nm @ 5500 RPM). This means 1956 BMW 501 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1958 Ferrari 500 Testarossa.
Compare all specifications:
| 1956 BMW 501 | 1958 Ferrari 500 Testarossa | |
| Make | BMW | Ferrari |
| Model | 501 | 500 Testarossa |
| Year Released | 1956 | 1958 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3166 cc | 1985 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 138 HP | 190 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 7000 RPM |
| Torque | 222 Nm | 205 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2500 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 82 mm | 90 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 75 mm | 78 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1405 kg | 684 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4740 mm | 4320 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1540 mm | 1310 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2260 mm |
